The UN agency for Palestinian refugees can only be replaced by Palestinian institutions, says its chief
Israeli ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Daniel Meron, told the press on Monday that his country “Encourage[ait] UN and NGO agencies to take over ” From the United Nations Rescue and Work Office for Palestine refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) in Gaza, with whom Israel has broken the ties.
“The alternative is not an NGO, it is not another United Nations Organization”later retorted Philippe Lazzarini at a press conference in Geneva. For the head of UNRWA, “The only viable alternative are […] Palestinian institutions of a Palestinian state ».
“And this is the reason why instead of focusing to want to make an agency disappear, I preferred to concentrate and that we put all our energy and our efforts for a political solution”he added.
Created in 1949, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees operates in occupied Palestinian territories by providing services to refugees, especially in the fields of education, health and sanitation. In the Gaza Strip, ravaged by fifteen months of war, the agency employs 13,000 employees and manages the humanitarian response for other organizations.
“We, the State of Israel, strive to find substitutes for the work of UNRWA inside Gaza”said the Israeli ambassador, Mr. Méron.
For him, other organizations can replace UNRWA according to their specialization, the global food program that can, for example, take care of food while “Others would take care of other subjects”.