A clash has emerged between the US, Israel and the SG over the future of UNRWA. The US and Israel have lobbied for other major UN agencies like WFP and UNICEF to absorb some of UNRWA's key functions in Gaza. This reflects mounting concerns in Washington that UNRWA's financial lifeline from the US Congress is at risk of being severed.
The SG believes dismantling UNRWA would be disastrous, given the extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He has privately told heads of other UN agencies not to take any steps to undermine UNRWA by poaching staff or planning contingency operations. Guterres argues UNRWA has unique capabilities and reach within Gaza that no other agency can readily replace.
Tom
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The SG believes dismantling UNRWA would be disastrous, given the extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He has privately told heads of other UN agencies not to take any steps to undermine UNRWA by poaching staff or planning contingency operations. Guterres argues UNRWA has unique capabilities and reach within Gaza that no other agency can readily replace.
Tom
Click here for the full article on DEVEX
Click here for shorter summary on DEVEX
Summary:
- The US and Israel are pushing for other UN agencies like WFP and UNICEF to take over some functions currently handled by UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees. This reflects concerns that UNRWA's financial future is threatened, with the US Congress likely to halt funding.
- UN Secretary-General Guterres has privately urged heads of other UN agencies not to undermine UNRWA by poaching staff or planning to expand roles in Gaza. He believes UNRWA is uniquely capable to handle the humanitarian crisis there.
- Israel has long wanted UNRWA dismantled, believing it perpetuates the refugee issue. But some in Israel's security establishment acknowledge UNRWA's importance to avoid Israel bearing the cost of supporting Gazans.
- Shifting roles to agencies like WFP would likely increase costs due to their higher staff salaries. Guterres argues no one can replace UNRWA's capabilities in Gaza. WFP indicates willingness to expand activities but is constrained by guidance from Guterres.
- The dispute leaves heads of UN agencies in a difficult position, trying to balance appeals from the US and staunch defense of UNRWA from the UN chief. But ultimately there may be no choice but to maintain UNRWA's central role.
Excerpts:
"WFP, led by Executive Director Cindy McCain, has indicated a willingness to try to accommodate the U.S. appeal to broaden its role but has informed the U.S. that it is constrained by the guidance coming from the U.N. chief’s office, according to two well-placed officials.
“The World Food Programme’s mandate is to deliver food assistance to hungry and vulnerable people,” a spokesperson for WFP told Devex by email. “We are ready to further step up our food assistance in Gaza, with the necessary funding. We cannot replace the critical functions of UNRWA in Gaza, including the running of shelters and health clinics.”
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, met with Democratic Senator Chris Coons and other lawmakers to discuss how the children’s aid agency might enhance its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, as well as Sudan.
“The issue of providing aid was discussed but no request was made,” a UNICEF spokesperson told Devex by email. But Russell drove home the point that no one can fill UNRWA’s shoes. “No other UN or humanitarian organization has the capacity to deliver the urgent assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need.”
“With almost a million children displaced, with disease spreading due to unsanitary conditions and lack of clean water, and with Gaza facing the risk of famine, we should be rapidly scaling up the humanitarian response, not down,” the spokesperson added."
Summary:
- The US and Israel are pushing for other UN agencies like WFP and UNICEF to take over some functions currently handled by UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees. This reflects concerns that UNRWA's financial future is threatened, with the US Congress likely to halt funding.
- UN Secretary-General Guterres has privately urged heads of other UN agencies not to undermine UNRWA by poaching staff or planning to expand roles in Gaza. He believes UNRWA is uniquely capable to handle the humanitarian crisis there.
- Israel has long wanted UNRWA dismantled, believing it perpetuates the refugee issue. But some in Israel's security establishment acknowledge UNRWA's importance to avoid Israel bearing the cost of supporting Gazans.
- Shifting roles to agencies like WFP would likely increase costs due to their higher staff salaries. Guterres argues no one can replace UNRWA's capabilities in Gaza. WFP indicates willingness to expand activities but is constrained by guidance from Guterres.
- The dispute leaves heads of UN agencies in a difficult position, trying to balance appeals from the US and staunch defense of UNRWA from the UN chief. But ultimately there may be no choice but to maintain UNRWA's central role.
Excerpts:
"WFP, led by Executive Director Cindy McCain, has indicated a willingness to try to accommodate the U.S. appeal to broaden its role but has informed the U.S. that it is constrained by the guidance coming from the U.N. chief’s office, according to two well-placed officials.
“The World Food Programme’s mandate is to deliver food assistance to hungry and vulnerable people,” a spokesperson for WFP told Devex by email. “We are ready to further step up our food assistance in Gaza, with the necessary funding. We cannot replace the critical functions of UNRWA in Gaza, including the running of shelters and health clinics.”
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, met with Democratic Senator Chris Coons and other lawmakers to discuss how the children’s aid agency might enhance its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, as well as Sudan.
“The issue of providing aid was discussed but no request was made,” a UNICEF spokesperson told Devex by email. But Russell drove home the point that no one can fill UNRWA’s shoes. “No other UN or humanitarian organization has the capacity to deliver the urgent assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need.”
“With almost a million children displaced, with disease spreading due to unsanitary conditions and lack of clean water, and with Gaza facing the risk of famine, we should be rapidly scaling up the humanitarian response, not down,” the spokesperson added."
SG Guterres is right in counseling UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR or other UN agencies not to comply with Israeli and US proposals to take over UNRWA's functions.
ReplyDeleteThat would not be practical or cost-effective in the short run. In the long run, for an agency like UNICEF, a heavy and disproportionate focus on helping a relatively small number of 2-3 million Palestinian children would detract from its global mandate to help billions of children in need in other LMICs.
The best way to phase out UNRAW is to speed up the establishment of a viable and thriving Palestinian state peacefully co-existing alongside Israel as per innumerable UN resolutions.
wonder what Unicef and WFP EDs will do? cave to their master?
ReplyDeleteOR take these diverted donations and turn them over to UNRWA OR decree all of UNRWA a sub-contractor of Unicef/WFP/WHO, thereby demonstrating genuine UN humanitarian agency solidarity. Backed by a solidarity statement by all INGOs.
grasping at straws?
also so much for Samantha Power anti-genocide credentials ... having fully grown into her last name..
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