New York, June 30 (Petra) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres on
Tuesday warned that the safety and welfare of millions of Palestinian
refugees are at risk, calling for urgent financial and political
support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
(UNRWA).

Guterres said conditions in Gaza remain “utterly appalling,” citing
ongoing Israeli attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians
since the ceasefire announced last October, speaking at the UN
General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee meeting on voluntary contributions
to UNRWA.

He described catastrophic living conditions, including unexploded
ordnance, open sewage, disease outbreaks, rodent infestations,
soaring temperatures, and widespread displacement. He said many
families lack access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, and
education, with some still sleeping in the open or going hungry.

In the occupied West Bank, Guterres pointed to continued settler
violence, illegal settlement expansion, home demolitions, land
confiscations, displacement orders, and severe movement restrictions,
warning that annexation would constitute a “blatant violation of
international law.”

He pointed to the ongoing hardship for Palestinian refugees in
Lebanon and Syria, where displacement and damaged infrastructure
persist after years of conflict.

Guterres stressed that UNRWA remains a lifeline for millions,
providing registration, emergency assistance, and essential services,
including healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and psychosocial
support.

He warned that the agency faces a severe financial crisis, including
a USD 100 million funding gap that threatens its ability to meet
basic obligations despite austerity measures. He said UNRWA has been
subjected to operational restrictions across the occupied Palestinian
territory.

Guterres praised UNRWA staff for their work under extreme conditions,
noting that more than 390 personnel have been killed in Gaza since
October 2023. He added that all UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip
have been damaged or destroyed, and international staff have been
barred from entering the territory for nearly 18 months.

He condemned efforts to undermine the agency through misinformation,
political pressure, and operational restrictions, saying such actions
endanger both humanitarian workers and millions of refugees.

Guterres stated that UNRWA’s mandate, renewed by the UN General
Assembly, is essential for providing critical services to 2.6 million
people and maintaining regional stability.

“UNRWA cannot continue without urgent backing and financial support
from Member States, not next year, not next month, but now,” he said.

//Petra// HA