UN agencies slam Israeli move to ban UNRWA

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN agencies on Tuesday slammed the Israeli parliament's passing of a law to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), underlining the importance of the work of the organization for the Palestinians.

At a UN press briefing in Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic warned that UNRWA's work "couldn't be matched" by any agency, including the WHO.

Regarding delivery of health services, 3,000 out of 13,000 UNRWA staff are health workers, Jasarevic said.

"They basically provided more than 6 million medical consultations last year in the health centers that are run by UNRWA, and they have been providing this consultation for more than half of Gaza population," he said.

He added that UNRWA staff are also involved in immunization of children, screening for disease surveillance, screening for malnutrition, and have been active in polio campaigns.

One-third of the team members for polio are UNRWA, he said, adding: "So really, ... (their work) it couldn't be matched by any agency, including WHO."

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, for his part, warned that the decision could cause further loss of children's lives.

"A decision such of this suddenly means that a new way has been found to kill children," Elder said.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stressed implementation of this decision would be a "collective punishment."

"If implemented, this would add to the acts of collective punishment that we have seen imposed on Gaza," Laerke warned.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it cannot substitute UNRWA in Gaza, but is keen to increase support to those in need.

"There is no way that IOM can step in to do what UNRWA is done. UNRWA is absolutely essential to the people of Gaza," Director General Amy Pope said.

"But we can provide support to those people who are currently in crisis," Pope said, adding: "That is a role that we are very, very keen to play, and one that we will be stepping up with the support of various stakeholders."

Despite objections from around the world, Israeli lawmakers passed on Monday the controversial bill 92-10, banning UNRWA from working in Israel and occupied territories.

Israel has accused UNRWA employees of complicity in the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border incursion by Hamas. UNRWA, however, denies the accusations.

Since then, Israel has killed more than 43,000 people, most of them women and children, in Gaza and created famine-like conditions across the blockaded territory.

The legislation, to take effect within three months, would end contact between UNRWA and Israeli officials, preventing the agency from providing life-saving support to Palestinians across Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The agency was established by the General Assembly in December 1949 to carry out relief and works programs for Palestine refugees. It began its operations on May 1, 1950.​​​​​​​