By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK-U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres met Tuesday with major donors for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinians. His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that Guterres met with the head of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) which is the highest investigative body in the U.N. system about the investigation into allegations brought by Israel that a number of UNRWA personnel were involved in the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. Dujarric said: “We have a process of accountability that is going on. While that is going on, people need to survive and we need continued support for UNRWA and all our humanitarian work.” He said that Guterres is “personally horrified” about the accusations and that his message to donors who suspended contributions is “at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region.” Guterres reiterated that “dire needs” of the “desperate populations they serve must be met.”
UNRWA also provides essential humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank including East Jerusalem. The agency provides crucial aid to over two million civilians in Gaza Strip while operating shelters for over one million, making sure there is food, water and healthcare services. On Monday, a group of major international aid agencies and NGOs urged countries who pulled funding “to reaffirm support for the vital work” UNRWA does. Donor States who pulled funding include the U.S., UK, Austria, Finland and Japan who were all urged to restore their donations to the agency so there’s no risk of “depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection.” Contributing organizations involved include Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children and the War Child Alliance. According to recent media reports a day ago, Israel has not yet presented concrete evidence to prove the allegations. Initially, Israel said its intelligence agency discovered 12 workers were involved in the October 7 attacks but now the number is alleged to be 200 people from the agency involved.
