UNRWA dismantlement puts Palestinian children's education at risk
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Philippe Lazzarini warns that without education, children may be vulnerable to abuse.
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IOF take positions as they invade the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza on February 8, 2024. (AP)
The commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) urged on Sunday to mobilize efforts to reach an agreement to end the Israeli war on Gaza rather than focusing on banning the UN agency, according to Anadolu.
"Dismantling UNRWA in the absence of a viable alternative will deprive Palestinian children of learning in the foreseeable future," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated.
He explained that children and their educational future "are not featured in any discussions when 'experts' or politicians talk about replacing UNRWA."
Lazzarini cautioned that without education, children may be vulnerable to abuse.
Read more: 12,000 students martyred since October 2023: Gaza Education Ministry
“Without learning, this region will remain unstable and volatile. Without UNRWA, the fate of millions of people will hang by the thread.”
Lazzarini emphasized that until October 2023, UNRWA educated approximately 300,000 boys and girls in Gaza, accounting for half of the territory's school-age population.
Gaza's youngsters "are now losing a second year of education," he warned, detailing how "UNRWA is the only UN agency that directly provides education in UN schools" and that around 50,000 children also attend UNRWA schools in the West Bank.
In fatal blow to Palestinian aid, 'Israel' bans UNRWA; chief hits back
"Israel" passed a law on Monday laws prohibiting the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from working in "Israel", further hindering its efforts to aid the Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The proposal has upset the United Nations and some of "Israel's" Western allies who believe it would exacerbate the already grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, where "Israel" has ruthlessly and repeatedly bombed civilians for the last year.
The restriction does not include operations in the Palestinian territory or abroad. UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, employs tens of thousands of people and provides education, health care, and humanitarian assistance to several million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
"Israel" has frequently demanded that UNRWA be dismantled and its responsibilities moved to other UN organizations. Israeli lawmaker Sharren Haskel boldly claimed that since the UN is unwilling to "clean this organization from terrorism," Israeli measures must be taken.
Another lawmaker, Boaz Bismuth alleged that "if you really want stability, if you really want security, if you want real peace in the Middle East, organizations like UNRWA won't bring you there."
Juliette Touma, the main spokesperson for the organization, stated that previous attempts to replace the organization "failed miserably", adding that "it's outrageous that a member state of the United Nations is working to dismantle a UN agency which also happens to be the largest responder in the humanitarian operation in Gaza."
