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UNRWA debate as ‘distraction from Gaza tragedy’: WHO

  • January 31, 2024
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The debate about the alleged involvement of UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) personnel in the Hamas attack on Israel is “distracting attention from the tragedy experienced by the

UNRWA debate as ‘distraction from Gaza tragedy’: WHO

The debate about the alleged involvement of UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) personnel in the Hamas attack on Israel is “distracting attention from the tragedy experienced by the people of Gaza“Said a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Of course, criminal activity cannot go unpunished, but this discussion largely distracts from what actually happens day-to-day in the Gaza Strip.

“Distraction from the fact that The entire population is deprived of access to food, clean water and housing.that the Gaza Strip has been without electricity for more than 100 days,” spokesman Christian Lindemeyer said.

WHO asks donors not to withhold funding

The WHO representative insisted on his agency’s original position, which was to appeal to donors who do not suspend their funding at a time when so many people’s lives depend on these resources.

“Cutting funding will only harm the people of Gaza, who are in desperate need of help,” he stressed, recalling that since the start of the war, UNRWA has provided one million medical consultations through its medical facilities and in the more than 154 shelters it operates, where more than million Palestinians.

In addition to health care, UNRWA has been responsible for all basic services for the population of the Gaza Strip in recent decades, including education.

In health care, the services it provides include monitoring of severely chronic patients, high-risk pregnancy and postpartum care, outpatient emergency consultations, and childhood vaccinations.

Canada, USA, Italy, Germany and Finland… suspend funding for UNRWA

According to Israel, a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 attacks, leading to their immediate dismissal and investigation.

Several countries that largely fund the organization have frozen, at least temporarily, their contributions, with the exception of the European Union, which has said it will make a final decision once it has the findings of the investigation in hand.

Ireland, on the other hand, reiterates its support for UNRWA.

For his part, Irish Foreign Minister Michel Martin stressed that they do not intend to suspend the allocation of funds to UNRWA.

“We have full confidence in Lazzarini’s decision to immediately suspend the UNRWA personnel involved in the October 7 attack, conduct a thorough investigation and have zero tolerance for terrorism.”

“UNRWA’s 13,000 staff are providing life-saving assistance to 2.3 million people at incredible personal cost, with more than 100 workers killed in the past four months,” he said.

Martin said Ireland contributed €18 million to UNRWA in 2023 and would “continue to provide support in 2024”. (EFE)

Source: Aristegui Noticias

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