23 may 2019
UNRWA's Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has rejected a US call to dismantle the agency, saying it cannot be blamed for the stalemate in the so-called peace efforts.
“I unreservedly reject the accompanying narrative that suggests that somehow UNRWA is to blame for the continuation of the refugee-hood of Palestine refugees, of their growing numbers and their growing needs,” UNRWA's Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl said in a press conference in the Gaza City on Thursday.
His comments were in response to a question about what Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump’s special representative for international negotiations, provocatively had said a day earlier, claiming that the agency had run its course and was no longer needed.
Addressing the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Greenblatt claimed that UNRWA had been a “bandaid” and that it was time to hand over services assured by the refugee agency to those countries hosting the Palestinian Arab refugees.
“The UNRWA model has failed the Palestinian people,” he added.
UNRWA was originally set up in 1949 to take care of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war in the Middle East mainly through providing them with humanitarian aid.
It was initially established as a temporary agency, but it has continued to provide support for Palestinian refugees for the better part of six decades.
It currently supports more than five million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, providing them with healthcare, education and social services with funding from international donors.
Most are descendants of the roughly 700,000 Palestinians who were driven out of their homes or fled the 1948 war that led to Israel's creation.
Last year, however, Washington cut its roughly $300 million annual donation to the UN agency, claiming that it was flawed as Trump’s administration pressed ahead with work on its so-called peace plan.
The US has accused UNRWA of expanding the definition of the refugee so that it includes all descendants of refugees regardless of whether they have taken citizenship in another country.
“The fact that UNRWA still exists today is an illustration of the failure of the parties and the international community to resolve the issue politically -- and one cannot deflect the attention onto a humanitarian organization,” the UNRWA head further said on Thursday.
The UN agency will host a conference on June 25 at which international donors are expected to pledge financial support.
The developments come as the White House is set to hold an economic summit in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on June 25 and 26 during which the first part of Trump’s “peace plan” which is spearheaded by his son-in-law Jared Kushner will be unveiled.
The Trump administration has said that its secret plan would require compromise by both sides.
The plan has been dismissed by Palestinian authorities even before being unveiled. Palestine’s Minister of Social Development Ahmed Majdalani also said early this week that Palestinians would not participate in the economic conference in Manama.
Relations between the Palestinian Authority and the US took an unprecedented dip in late 2017, when Washington recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital.”
Since then, Palestinians have shown little interest in discussing a plan that they anticipate will fall far short of their core demands.
The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, is facing steep aid cuts. Since being shunned by Palestinians, the White House has slashed hundreds of millions of dollars to humanitarian organizations.
Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital, but Israel insists on maintaining the occupation of Palestinian territories.
Trump has time and again called his plan as “the deal of the century,” which is coincidentally the title of a 1983 comedy featuring a bunch of hapless arms dealers who compete to sell a weapon, called the Peacemaker, to a South American dictator.
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has rejected a US call to dismantle the agency, saying it cannot be blamed for the stalemate in the so-called peace efforts.
“I unreservedly reject the accompanying narrative that suggests that somehow UNRWA is to blame for the continuation of the refugee-hood of Palestine refugees, of their growing numbers and their growing needs,” UNRWA's Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl said in a press conference in the Gaza City on Thursday.
His comments were in response to a question about what Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump’s special representative for international negotiations, provocatively had said a day earlier, claiming that the agency had run its course and was no longer needed.
Addressing the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Greenblatt claimed that UNRWA had been a “bandaid” and that it was time to hand over services assured by the refugee agency to those countries hosting the Palestinian Arab refugees.
“The UNRWA model has failed the Palestinian people,” he added.
UNRWA was originally set up in 1949 to take care of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war in the Middle East mainly through providing them with humanitarian aid.
It was initially established as a temporary agency, but it has continued to provide support for Palestinian refugees for the better part of six decades.
It currently supports more than five million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, providing them with healthcare, education and social services with funding from international donors.
Most are descendants of the roughly 700,000 Palestinians who were driven out of their homes or fled the 1948 war that led to Israel's creation.
Last year, however, Washington cut its roughly $300 million annual donation to the UN agency, claiming that it was flawed as Trump’s administration pressed ahead with work on its so-called peace plan.
The US has accused UNRWA of expanding the definition of the refugee so that it includes all descendants of refugees regardless of whether they have taken citizenship in another country.
“The fact that UNRWA still exists today is an illustration of the failure of the parties and the international community to resolve the issue politically -- and one cannot deflect the attention onto a humanitarian organization,” the UNRWA head further said on Thursday.
The UN agency will host a conference on June 25 at which international donors are expected to pledge financial support.
The developments come as the White House is set to hold an economic summit in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on June 25 and 26 during which the first part of Trump’s “peace plan” which is spearheaded by his son-in-law Jared Kushner will be unveiled.
The Trump administration has said that its secret plan would require compromise by both sides.
The plan has been dismissed by Palestinian authorities even before being unveiled. Palestine’s Minister of Social Development Ahmed Majdalani also said early this week that Palestinians would not participate in the economic conference in Manama.
Relations between the Palestinian Authority and the US took an unprecedented dip in late 2017, when Washington recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital.”
Since then, Palestinians have shown little interest in discussing a plan that they anticipate will fall far short of their core demands.
The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, is facing steep aid cuts. Since being shunned by Palestinians, the White House has slashed hundreds of millions of dollars to humanitarian organizations.
Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital, but Israel insists on maintaining the occupation of Palestinian territories.
Trump has time and again called his plan as “the deal of the century,” which is coincidentally the title of a 1983 comedy featuring a bunch of hapless arms dealers who compete to sell a weapon, called the Peacemaker, to a South American dictator.
UNRWA has warned that it will run out of money in a few weeks if donors did not step in quickly.
"As we speak, UNRWA has only enough money to run its operations until mid-June," Pierre Krahenbuhl, UNRWA commissioner-general told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
Krahenbuhl said the agency needs $1.2 billion this year for all of its operations across the region.
"This is the exact amount we mobilized last year," he said. "If every donor managed to maintain its level of funding in 2019, we should be able to cover our budget."
He said he was particularly worried about making sure UNRWA's 715 schools could open on time in August to serve a half-million students, as well as being able to continue food distribution programs.
Midyear financial shortages are not unusual for the agency, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. But it has faced an unprecedented funding crisis since last year, when the Trump administration abruptly slashed and then stopped its financial contribution. Historically, Washington has been the agency's largest donor.
UNRWA provides more than five million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria with essential services, including education and health care.
"As we speak, UNRWA has only enough money to run its operations until mid-June," Pierre Krahenbuhl, UNRWA commissioner-general told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
Krahenbuhl said the agency needs $1.2 billion this year for all of its operations across the region.
"This is the exact amount we mobilized last year," he said. "If every donor managed to maintain its level of funding in 2019, we should be able to cover our budget."
He said he was particularly worried about making sure UNRWA's 715 schools could open on time in August to serve a half-million students, as well as being able to continue food distribution programs.
Midyear financial shortages are not unusual for the agency, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. But it has faced an unprecedented funding crisis since last year, when the Trump administration abruptly slashed and then stopped its financial contribution. Historically, Washington has been the agency's largest donor.
UNRWA provides more than five million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria with essential services, including education and health care.
21 may 2019
The Greek Coastguards have announced locating the corpse of a Palestinian immigrant, who went missing 17 days ago, after trying to immigrate to Greece from Turkey, without documents.
The Palestinian has been identified as Mahmoud Hasan Awadallah, 22, from the Gaza Strip; his corpse was found near the shore of Samos Island in Greece.
His family said they lost contact with him nearly 17 days ago, after he left Turkey in an attempt to reach Greece.
Two weeks ago, another Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Bahissy, from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, died under similar circumstances near the Turkish coast.
Related: Two Children Drown To Death As Immigrants’ Boat Capsizes
The Palestinian has been identified as Mahmoud Hasan Awadallah, 22, from the Gaza Strip; his corpse was found near the shore of Samos Island in Greece.
His family said they lost contact with him nearly 17 days ago, after he left Turkey in an attempt to reach Greece.
Two weeks ago, another Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Bahissy, from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, died under similar circumstances near the Turkish coast.
Related: Two Children Drown To Death As Immigrants’ Boat Capsizes
20 may 2019
Senior Hamas official Ra’fat Murra said that the Palestinian residents of Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Lebanon paid a price for a war they were not a party to it.
In a press release on Monday, Murra affirmed that the Nahr al-Bared Palestinians were the biggest victims of the 2007 fight that destroyed their camp.
He pointed out that the Nahr al-Bared war started when militants fled to the camp and used it as a hiding place, adding that the war displaced all the Palestinian residents, which numbered about 45,000 people, and destroyed it completely.
The Hamas official stressed the need to maintain security and stability in Palestinian refugee camps and spare them any conflicts.
Most of the camp’s neighborhoods have not been built yet and many of the residents live in very difficult conditions, he affirmed.
He called for rebuilding the camp entirely and help the residents restore their lives to normal.
In a press release on Monday, Murra affirmed that the Nahr al-Bared Palestinians were the biggest victims of the 2007 fight that destroyed their camp.
He pointed out that the Nahr al-Bared war started when militants fled to the camp and used it as a hiding place, adding that the war displaced all the Palestinian residents, which numbered about 45,000 people, and destroyed it completely.
The Hamas official stressed the need to maintain security and stability in Palestinian refugee camps and spare them any conflicts.
Most of the camp’s neighborhoods have not been built yet and many of the residents live in very difficult conditions, he affirmed.
He called for rebuilding the camp entirely and help the residents restore their lives to normal.
16 may 2019
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said Wednesday that nine Palestinian refugees, including four children, were killed in a missile attack on Neirab refugee camp in the Syrian city of Aleppo. video
According to the Action Group, four guided missiles fired by opposition forces stroke streets in the camp, killing nine and injuring many others.
The slain victims were identified as Amal Sakhnini (10 years), Yousef Abu Harsh (6 years), Mohamed al-Dahoudi and his eight-year-old son Waleed, Masa Dahoudi (3 years), Ahmed al-Khatib (born in 1982), Fatima al-Khatib (65 years), Mahmoud as-Sa’di (70 years) and Ahmed Abu Hashim.
Many others, including three kids, were also injured in the missile attack.
According to the Action Group, four guided missiles fired by opposition forces stroke streets in the camp, killing nine and injuring many others.
The slain victims were identified as Amal Sakhnini (10 years), Yousef Abu Harsh (6 years), Mohamed al-Dahoudi and his eight-year-old son Waleed, Masa Dahoudi (3 years), Ahmed al-Khatib (born in 1982), Fatima al-Khatib (65 years), Mahmoud as-Sa’di (70 years) and Ahmed Abu Hashim.
Many others, including three kids, were also injured in the missile attack.
15 may 2019
Two Palestinian children were killed, less than a week ago, after a landmine detonated near the al-Bahdaliya area, in the suburb of Damascus.
The documentation team of the “Actions Group for the Palestinians In Syria” has reported that Omar Mohammad As’ad, 10, and Mohammad Samir Hamamda, 9, from Sayida Zeinab refugee camp, were killed when a landmine detonated near them on May 10th.
It added that the ongoing conflict in Syria has led to the dead of 241 Palestinian children, and that various medical facilities, and ambulances, have been subject to bombing attacks and shelling, while dozens of persons who work in the medical field, including medics, nurses and doctors have been killed.
Hundreds were either arrested or abducted.
In February of this year, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has officially launched its 2019 Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal (Syria Appeal).
The documentation team of the “Actions Group for the Palestinians In Syria” has reported that Omar Mohammad As’ad, 10, and Mohammad Samir Hamamda, 9, from Sayida Zeinab refugee camp, were killed when a landmine detonated near them on May 10th.
It added that the ongoing conflict in Syria has led to the dead of 241 Palestinian children, and that various medical facilities, and ambulances, have been subject to bombing attacks and shelling, while dozens of persons who work in the medical field, including medics, nurses and doctors have been killed.
Hundreds were either arrested or abducted.
In February of this year, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has officially launched its 2019 Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal (Syria Appeal).
13 may 2019
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) expressed real concern, on Monday, that unless it secures at least an additional $60 million by June, its ability to continue providing food to more than one million Palestinian refugees in Gaza will be severely challenged.
UNRWA said in a statement, “At a time when Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, often characterized by the festive nature of its Iftars, in Gaza, more than half the population depends on food aid from the international community.”
The statement stressed that unless UNRWA secures “at least an additional $60 million by June, their ability to continue providing food to more than one million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, including some 620,000 abject poor - those who cannot cover their basic food needs and who have to survive on $1.6 per day - and nearly 390,000 absolute poor - those who survive on about $3.5 per day – will be severely challenged.”
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. From fewer than 80,000 Palestine refugees receiving UNRWA social assistance in Gaza in the year 2000, there are today over one million people who need emergency food assistance without which they cannot get through their day.
Matthias Schmale, Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, said “This is a near ten-fold increase caused by the blockade that lead to the closure of Gaza and its disastrous impact on the local economy, the successive conflicts that razed entire neighborhoods and public infrastructure to the ground, and the ongoing internal Palestinian political crisis that started in 2007 with the arrival of Hamas to power in Gaza.”
A report issued by the United Nations in 2017 warned that the Gaza Strip would be "uninhabitable" by 2020.
Today, with over 53% unemployment rate among Gaza’s population and with more than one million people dependent on quarterly UNRWA food handouts, it is mostly preventive humanitarian action of UN agencies, including UNRWA, and remittances from abroad that have held Gaza back from the brink of total collapse.
Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the United Nations founded UNWRA, to help resettle nearly 700,000 Palestinians after the Arab-Israeli war; UNRWA says that there are 5.3 million Palestinian refugees in the world.
UNRWA currently provides services to some 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the besieged Gaza Strip.
UNRWA said in a statement, “At a time when Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, often characterized by the festive nature of its Iftars, in Gaza, more than half the population depends on food aid from the international community.”
The statement stressed that unless UNRWA secures “at least an additional $60 million by June, their ability to continue providing food to more than one million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, including some 620,000 abject poor - those who cannot cover their basic food needs and who have to survive on $1.6 per day - and nearly 390,000 absolute poor - those who survive on about $3.5 per day – will be severely challenged.”
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. From fewer than 80,000 Palestine refugees receiving UNRWA social assistance in Gaza in the year 2000, there are today over one million people who need emergency food assistance without which they cannot get through their day.
Matthias Schmale, Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, said “This is a near ten-fold increase caused by the blockade that lead to the closure of Gaza and its disastrous impact on the local economy, the successive conflicts that razed entire neighborhoods and public infrastructure to the ground, and the ongoing internal Palestinian political crisis that started in 2007 with the arrival of Hamas to power in Gaza.”
A report issued by the United Nations in 2017 warned that the Gaza Strip would be "uninhabitable" by 2020.
Today, with over 53% unemployment rate among Gaza’s population and with more than one million people dependent on quarterly UNRWA food handouts, it is mostly preventive humanitarian action of UN agencies, including UNRWA, and remittances from abroad that have held Gaza back from the brink of total collapse.
Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the United Nations founded UNWRA, to help resettle nearly 700,000 Palestinians after the Arab-Israeli war; UNRWA says that there are 5.3 million Palestinian refugees in the world.
UNRWA currently provides services to some 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the besieged Gaza Strip.