Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC briefing on the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Mme.President,
We thank Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), for his briefing on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) as far as the activities of UNRWA. His assessments are extremely worrying, and it is high time for the Council to discuss them.
An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe has been unfolding in the Gaza Strip for the seventh month straight. Everyone knows the facts and the unthinkable statistics of casualties, and the number of people in need of urgent food and medical assistance, as well as recorded cases of deaths from starvation and dehydration, including among minors.
Contrary to the demands of UNSC resolution 2728 and in violation of IHL norms, the fighting in the enclave is escalating, with 68 people killed in the past 24 hours alone. Under these conditions, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza is practically impossible. UN agencies are unanimous in saying that humanitarian access to the enclave is virtually non-existent. According to OCHA, the Israel Defense Forces block half of the humanitarian convoys to Gaza. At the same time, according to information from humanitarian workers, aid is available, humanitarian supplies are waiting at the borders, and there are enough financial resources to organize deliveries. The only thing is to open the checkpoints and ensure security.
We have repeatedly warned that in the absence of a full-fledged, sustainable ceasefire regime, which must be properly monitored through military observers, humanitarian efforts are doomed. Colleagues, humanitarian workers are defenseless against an army. No amount of voluntary deconfliction will help if one side is determined to continue fighting. And especially when there are signals from a member of the Security Council that the Council's resolutions are allegedly non-binding.
In these circumstances, the role of UNRWA in the oPt is indispensable. We call to pay tribute to the heroism of the Agency's staff, who carry out their humanitarian mandate in inhumane conditions, paying for it with their lives. To date, 178 staff members have lost their lives. That is the highest single-time death toll for a United Nations entity.
Against that background, attempts to label UNRWA as a terrorist organization and calls to disband the Agency, which we have heard in this Chamber too, are categorically unacceptable. Indiscriminate accusations against UNRWA representatives must not be used to besmirch this large and vital UN entity, which employs 13,000 people in Gaza alone. If UNRWA is suspended, this move will become yet another illegal and immoral instrument of collective punishment for millions of Palestinians in need.
Since the beginning of escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, about 2 million Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes. At the same time, the majority of IDPs have found refuge precisely in UNRWA facilities, which, despite their status, continue to be subjected to Israeli bombardment. As recently as April 12, a primary school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which operates under the auspices of UNRWA, was shelled. One person was killed and nine wounded. This points to a targeted attack against the years of humanitarian efforts and progress, called to provide protection for civilians.
In parallel to that, the authorities in West Jerusalem restrict UNRWA’s activities in Gaza in every possible way. Since March 24, humanitarian access to its northern parts, where the situation is the most difficult, has been blocked. The movement of UNRWA staff in the West Bank has also been restricted. UNRWA’s bank transactions, as well as customs and visa clearance, have been impeded.
Against that backdrop, the decision by a number of key donors to suspend funding to UNRWA in the wake of allegations of its staff's involvement in cooperation with Hamas is outrageous and incomprehensible. This is despite the fact that West Jerusalem has never provided evidence against the 12 staff members it named. We strongly condemn attempts to discredit the Agency through disinformation campaigns. We believe that funding for UNRWA should be restored in full even before the conclusion of the investigation, which should be objective and based not only on data provided by Israel but also on information from Palestinians.
UNRWA is the unique channel for assisting Palestinians both in the oPt and neighboring Lebanon, Jordan and Syria until he issue of their status is justly resolved as part of the solution to the Palestinian question.
Clearly, amidst region-wide turbulence, the needs of Palestinian refugees will only increase. In that regard, the decision by a number of countries to make additional financial commitments is most commendable. We call on other states to support UNRWA on a depoliticized basis in order to ensure its sustainable and uninterrupted operation.
For our part, we will also continue to provide comprehensive assistance, especially through annual voluntary contributions to the Agency, whose activities have not only a humanitarian but also a political dimension and have an important stabilizing effect on the entire Middle East region.
Mme.President,
The only way to stop the spreading catastrophe in Gaza is to have an immediate and widespread ceasefire to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all Gazans in need and to avert the threat of a further widening of the crisis.
Security Council resolution 2728 was clearly not enough. It was simply not implemented. Ramadan has passed, and the question of a long-term ceasefire is once again very acute. We assume that the UN Security Council will return to its consideration in the very near future.
We underscore again that failure to implement binding Security Council resolutions should lead to the imposition of sanctions against the violator. We believe that the Council should consider this issue without delay.
Thank you.
Right of reply by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy:
Mme.President,
We regret that the Security Council again was exposed to a brazen attempt at disinformation by the United States. The claim that because Russia and China vetoed a flawed American draft resolution the Security Council was unable to call for the protection of humanitarian workers is a blatant lie and manipulation. Such call is contained in resolutions 2712 and 2720. Resolution 2728, which passed thanks to our veto of the American draft, also makes a reference to them. This is not the first time that the US delegation has tried to mislead the international community like a thimblerigger. It is sad that American diplomacy has descended to such dishonorable and low practices. However, what can one expect from a country that four times vetoed the draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and called the UNSC resolution 2728 non-binding? By acting in this way, the US becomes a direct accomplice in the murder of more than two hundred aid workers and almost 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
However, this was clear even before, when Washington sought ways to give its ally a free hand to kill Palestinians with impunity.
Thank you.
