UN Secretary General Affirms UNRWA Will Not Be Replaced, Hopes That Donor State Funds Will Be Disbursed Again

The photo archive - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres listened to the presentation during the ASEAN-PBB Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Thursday (7/9/2023). (ANTARA PHOTO/M Agung Rajasa/pras/aa.)

JAKARTA - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the role of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is irreplaceable.

Previously, a number of countries including the United States, Britain, Germany and also Japan stopped funding for UNRWA. Responding to this, Guterres held talks with donor countries so that they would again disburse funding for the agency.

"There is no other organization whose presence is so meaningful in Gaza and nothing compared to this situation. So, no other organization can replace it at this time," Guterres said during a press conference reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 9.

He referred to the effectiveness of UNRWA funding as he defended why UNRWA was the right organization to provide assistance to Gaza.

"The fees issued by UNRWA are much less than the costs incurred by other institutions, for historical reasons. The salaries paid by UNRWA are one-third of the salaries paid by UNICEF or WFP or other UN organizations," said the secretary general.

"So any attempt to replace it is impossible," Guterres said.