Highlights of the noon briefing by Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General (excerpt on UNRWA and Gaza) 12 July 2024

12 July 2024

(Excerpt)

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UNRWA

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the UNRWA pledging conference here at Headquarters. His message was clear, that there is no alternative to UNRWA – which is the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza. He called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Mr. Guterres noted that 195 UNRWA staff members have been killed, and that this is the highest staff death toll in UN history. Despite these and other obstacles, the women and men of UNRWA have bravely continued their work in whatever way they can.

For his part, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General for UNRWA, sounded the alarm that the Agency’s ability to operate beyond August depends on Member States disbursing planned funding and making new contributions to the core budget.

As a reminder, for the occupied Palestinian territory emergency appeal – driven primarily by the war in Gaza – UNRWA is appealing for $1.2 billion to cover critical humanitarian needs until the end of the year. This appeal, and the emergency appeal for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are less than 20 percent funded.

Mr. Lazzarini will be talking to reporters after the pledging conference is over – around 5:30 p.m. New York time.

GAZA

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it took part in a mission to three sites in Gaza city today to assess the needs of people displaced in the wake of Israel’s latest evacuation orders.

That mission was led by the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Scott Anderson – with UNRWA, UNICEF, the UN Mine Action Service, the UN Department of Safety and Security, and the NGO ACTED also taking part.

The team said those displaced urgently need food, water, health care and protection.

The assessment team heard from women about the specific challenges they face, including lack of privacy and access to hygiene products, as well as difficulties feeding their infants.

They also witnessed how the lack of fuel is undermining aid organizations’ efforts to provide critical services to displaced families.

There has been a power outage in Gaza since October – the grid has not been functioning, therefore as you can imagine hospitals, bakeries, and water treatment plants and hygiene facilities, all are operating with generators that require fuel to be shipped in.

OCHA reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access restrictions and a lack of public order and safety continue to prevent aid organizations from obtaining adequate supplies of fuel. Movement along the main humanitarian cargo route between the Kerem Shalom – or Karem Abu Salem – crossing and central Gaza remains extremely difficult. As a result, only a quarter of the fuel supply needed to sustain humanitarian operations this month has been accessible in Gaza as of Wednesday.