JAKARTA - The King of Jordan said that no United Nations (UN) agency could replace the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), highlighting the role not only played in the Gaza Strip but also in the Middle East region.
Speaking in a press statement with US President Joe Biden at the White House, Washington DC, King Abdullah II urged ongoing support for UNRWA.
Israel accused 12 of its 13,000 employees in Gaza of being involved with Hamas attacks on October 7. The US. That led the agency's main donors, such as Britain, France, the United States, Germany, and other donor countries to immediately suspend funding.
"No other UN agency can do what UNRWA is doing, helping Gazans through this humanitarian disaster," he said.
Founded in 1949 after a war around the founding of Israel, UNRWA provided educational, health and essential assistance services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. In Gaza, they provide protection for about one million people who have just fled due to the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
"His work in other operational areas, especially in Jordan, where 2.3 million people are registered is also important," explained King Abdullah II.
"It is very important for UNRWA to continue to receive the support needed to carry out its mandate," he said.
King Abdullah II also said, "Restrictions on emergency aid and medical items cause inhumane conditions."
Before King Abdullah II, many world leaders called for continued funding for the agency, given its irreplaceable role.
Most recently, there was EU top diplomat Josep Borrell who said the agency should remain operational, while allegations directed at the organization with 13.000 staff related to the Hamas group attack had to be verified.
"No other party can do what UNRWA has done, accusations need to be verified, let's wait until the investigation is carried out," he explained ahead of the EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
"The assumption of innocence applies to everyone, at any time, even for UNRWA," he said.
"While people must continue to eat, they must continue to seek treatment to the doctor," he continued.
The EU's Head of Foreign Policy said getting rid of the agency would not make refugees leave.
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"No, it will exacerbate the situation," Borrell said, quoted from Middle East Monitor.
He pointed out it was no longer a secret that the Israeli government wanted to get rid of UNRWA over the years with confidence that if the UN agencies formed specifically to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees were closed, the refugees would simply disappear.
"You know, hundreds of thousands of people get food every day thanks to UNRWA's work. And not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the West Bank," he explained.
"This body is irreplaceable," he said.
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