Egypt won’t accept alternative to UNRWA: FM

CAIRO - 8 July 2024: Egypt will not accept or allow the creation of any alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdel Aty on Monday. 

UNRWA is the only agency that has a mandate from the United Nations to relieve and support Palestinian refugees.

In his speech during a joint press conference with the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, the Egyptian diplomat said “I extend my sincere thanks and deep appreciation on behalf of the government, the Egyptian leadership, and the Egyptian people, for the great effort being made by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA.” 

“I also extend my sincere condolences to UNRWA over the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives as a result of the blatant and brutal aggression in order to provide relief to innocent Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip,” Abdel Aty added.

"UNRWA is one of the most important United Nations agencies working in the humanitarian field, especially in light of the blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law witnessed by the occupied Palestinian territories. This confirms its importance and role, which is not limited to the Gaza Strip, but extends to include caring for the affairs of Palestinian refugees inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territories, whether in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon or Syria.”

He pointed out that UNRWA has a humanitarian mandate, a long history, and an actual contribution on the ground. It is an integral part of the responsibility that lies on the international community for millions of Palestinians.

Egypt is “constant eager to work closely with UNRWA to perform its noble mission,” 

He pointed out that the campaign to undermine the UNRWA’s credibility is not new, but aims to break the sanctity of the work of international organizations that support the Palestinian people. He highlighted that UNRWA is the only entity that has distribution centers in Gaza. 

"The Gaza Strip can no longer tolerate further destruction. The Israeli military machine has destroyed all facilities and infrastructure, in addition to the systematic targeting of UNRWA institutions and buildings, which is a blatant violation of international law and its continuation cannot be accepted."

Abdel Aty called on the international community to intensify pressure for an immediate ceasefire, stressing that Egypt provides support to the wounded in the Gaza Strip, as Egyptian hospitals host large numbers of the wounded and their families.

He explained that the Palestinian child no longer enjoys his most basic rights, and there are still half a million Palestinian children suffering from psychological trauma due to the cessation of education after the destruction of the schools run by UNRWA. 

The minister said “education is a basic right, and UNRWA plays an essential role in providing educational services. It does not It only works to provide humanitarian aid, but also provides educational and health services.”

For his part, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that he discussed with Abdel Aty close cooperation with Egypt during these difficult times and the attacks on UNRWA, in which about two hundred employees lost their lives since the beginning of the war.

“Since the beginning of the war, UNRWA's headquarters have been the target of military and security operations, and above all that is the campaign that aimed to dismantle UNRWA. We also saw the brutal campaign and some of the measures that were taken against the agency.”

“Member states have requested that we respond to this campaign and not We accept this matter, because it will not be limited to UNRWA only, but will extend to the United Nations, and will not be limited to Gaza, but it can happen with crises in other places,” Lazzarini added.

He pointed out that this week witnessed the displacement of 250,000 people from Khan Yunis based on Israeli instructions. This is not the first time that residents have been forced to flee, which means that there is no safe place in Gaza.

He explained that he discussed with Abdel Ati the situation of children in Gaza, noting that half of Gaza’s population is under 18 years of age, and there are 600,000 girls and boys living among the rubble. There is a danger that an entire generation will be deprived of education.

Lazzarini emphasized the only alternative to UNRWA is a state capable of providing educational services.