Guterres launches UNRWA fundraising appeal during New York fundraising conference
He Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterreshas launched this Friday a Unprecedented fundraising appeal for UN refugee agency UNRWAfor the exceptional reason of the Gaza war and the investigation that the organization had to carry out into the alleged participation of its members in the October 7 massacre in Israel.
“Every year we come together to help bridge the gap between what is promised to UNRWA and what is needed; this year is different,” Guterres said at the start of the fundraising conference at the UN General Assembly in New York.Just when we thought the situation couldn’t get any worse in Gaza, somehow, in appalling ways, civilians are being pushed into ever deeper circles of hell.has added.
Guterres recalled thatUNRWA staff ‘not spared from horror’ and remembered that 195 of its staff members have died in the Israeli bombings, “the highest number of staff deaths in UN historymany of them together with their families and loved ones.”
After observing a minute of silence for the deceased personnel, the head of the agency, Philippe Lazzariniha reported mistreatment of its staff both because of Israel and because of the Palestinian militias.
“Personnel detained by Israeli forces have reported ill-treatment and torture. Our facilities have been used for military purposes by Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Israeli forces. Our convoys have been attacked despite coordinating movement with the forces in combat,” he said, according to Europa Press.
