UNRWA says unable to operate if "Israel" invades Rafah

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Feb 2024 20:53
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UNRWA chief told RTE that he did not think it possible to continue operations since the "entire logistics of the United Nations and the international aid community is in Rafah."

Palestinians walk through the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Gaza City on February 10, 2024 (AP)

UNRWA, the UN Palestinian refugee agency, would be unable to continue its operations in the Gaza Strip if "Israel" conducts its planned attack in Rafah, warned its head, Philippe Lazzarini, on Thursday.

Lazzarini told RTE, an Irish media outlet, that he did not think it possible to continue operations since the "entire logistics of the United Nations and the international aid community is in Rafah."

In support of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), Ireland announced that it will pledge $21.46 million and called on countries, including the United States, to resume and increase funding for the agency.

"I urge other donors to resume and expand support to UNRWA so that it can deliver for the millions of Palestinian refugees in need," Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said in a statement after meeting UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin.

If the land invasion takes place, Palestinian refugees in Rafah would be compelled to cross the border into Egypt, according to Lazzarini.

Earlier in the day, Lazzarini told the Swiss daily Neue Zuericher Zeitung that UNRWA has not received any fresh information from the occupation regarding their false accusations of UNRWA staff being implicated in the events of October 7.

"Israel" accused 12 of its members of being affiliated with the October 7 operation conducted by the Palestinian Resistance. As a result, the UK, the US, and 14 other countries have opted to defund the organization, primarily led by the United States, prior to any investigation and without any proof provided.

Lazzarini slammed the calls to dismantle the agency as "short-sighted" amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Lazzarini cautioned member states during a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday against the various calls for the dismantling and termination of UNRWA.

“I have warned about the impact, I have said that these calls are short-sighted,” he said.

Rafah: 'A sea of displaced Palestinians'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lazzarini expressed concern about Israeli assaults on Rafah, the densely populated southern town in Gaza that has become the final sanctuary for forcibly displaced Palestinians escaping the intense bombardment of the besieged coastal territory.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said the Rafah situation was "deeply concerning", with people being "anxious and in fear" of a major military assault "in the middle of a sea of displaced people.”

"The question is, where will the civilians go?" Lazzarini said.

"There is absolutely no safe place in Rafah anymore. The fear is that the number of people killed and injured might again significantly increase," he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced today that Israeli occupation forces committed several massacres in 24 hours only, killing 133 Palestinians and injuring 162, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli aggression on Gaza up to 28,473, in addition to 68,146 injuries.