New York, June 30 (Petra) - UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday warned that the safety and welfare of millions of Palestinian refugees are at risk, calling for urgent financial and political support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Guterres said conditions in Gaza remain "utterly appalling," citing ongoing Israeli attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the ceasefire announced last October, speaking at the UN General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee meeting on voluntary contributions to UNRWA.
He described catastrophic living conditions, including unexploded ordnance, open sewage, disease outbreaks, rodent infestations, soaring temperatures, and widespread displacement. He said many families lack access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, and education, with some still sleeping in the open or going hungry.
In the occupied West Bank, Guterres pointed to continued settler violence, illegal settlement expansion, home demolitions, land confiscations, displacement orders, and severe movement restrictions, warning that annexation would constitute a "blatant violation of international law." He pointed to the ongoing hardship for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Syria, where displacement and damaged infrastructure persist after years of conflict.
Guterres stressed that UNRWA remains a lifeline for millions, providing registration, emergency assistance, and essential services, including healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and psychosocial support.
He warned that the agency faces a severe financial crisis, including a USD 100 million funding gap that threatens its ability to meet basic obligations despite austerity measures. He said UNRWA has been subjected to operational restrictions across the occupied Palestinian territory.
Guterres praised UNRWA staff for their work under extreme conditions, noting that more than 390 personnel have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. He added that all UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed, and international staff have been barred from entering the territory for nearly 18 months.
He condemned efforts to undermine the agency through misinformation, political pressure, and operational restrictions, saying such actions endanger both humanitarian workers and millions of refugees.
Guterres stated that UNRWA’s mandate, renewed by the UN General Assembly, is essential for providing critical services to 2.6 million people and maintaining regional stability.
"UNRWA cannot continue without urgent backing and financial support from Member States, not next year, not next month, but now," he said.
//Petra// HA
