AMMAN — The Secretary-General of the United
Nations, António Guterres, expressed his hope on Monday that the US Congress
would reconsider its decision to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for an entire year and
ultimately cancel it.
اضافة اعلان
During a press conference held at a girls'
school in Amman's Wahdat district, Guterres responded to a question from
"Al-Mamlaka" by stating that the United Nations also hopes similar
measures will not be taken by other countries. He explained that the funding
suspension affects the agency's services to more than 5 million Palestinian
refugees in the region.
US President Joe Biden signed a federal
government funding law until the end of September, which Congress approved just
hours earlier, banning any new direct funding for UNRWA, Al-Mamlaka TV
reported.
Guterres noted that once independent
investigations and UNRWA reviews are completed, the United Nations will publish
its reports on the involvement of UNRWA employees in the attacks that occurred
on October 7.
In response to a question from
"Al-Mamlaka," Guterres affirmed that the results of the
investigation, review, and subsequent steps taken by the organization will
enhance UNRWA's effectiveness and ensure its continued work.
He explained that UNRWA is currently operating
under very difficult conditions due to the cessation of aid from several
countries.
"There was an attempt to silence voices
opposing the cessation of UNRWA funding, including mine," Guterres
acknowledged, confirming the United Nations' full commitment to affirming
UNRWA's role as a UN body committed to UN values and its Charter.
He emphasized that he is fully convinced that
the investigation results, review, and steps to be taken will make UNRWA
stronger, more effective, committed to UN values, and ensure the continuation
of its funding, services, and work.
UNRWA is conducting an independent
investigation into allegations against its employees of involvement in the
"Al-Aqsa Storm" operation on Israeli-occupied territories.
In response to questions from journalists, he
stated that international consensus is growing regarding the necessity to
inform Israel of the need to cease fire and that an attack on Rafah would lead
to a humanitarian catastrophe.
He added, "We see growing international
consensus on informing Israel of the need to cease fire, as well as increasing
consensus from the United States, the European Union, and, of course, the
Islamic world, regarding informing Israel that a ground invasion of Rafah could
result in a humanitarian disaster."
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