Official UNRWA Statement: Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip

January 26, 2024 Laila Mokhiber

UNRWA takes recent allegations extremely seriously, their statement is below. We’d like to remind our supporters that UNRWA USA as a nonprofit corporation is distinct from UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. UNRWA USA is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code. UNRWA USA is governed by its own Board of Directors which exercises discretion and control over donated funds in support of the Agency's work for Palestine refugees. Further, UNRWA USA staff are staff of UNRWA USA only.

UNRWA USA remains steadfast in its mission: UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life.

OFFICIAL UNRWA STATEMENT

From Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General

Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip

Amman, January 26, 2024 - “The Israeli Authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October.

“To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

“UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of 7 October and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families.

“These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the Agency has been providing since the war began. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world”.

ENDs –

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development. It does this through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

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Asako Nitta

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