UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on world leaders to increase their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), emphasizing its critical role in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, particularly in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a high-level meeting co-hosted by Jordan and Sweden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Guterres highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, nearly a year after the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.

“When we met one year ago, I spoke about putting ourselves in the shoes of Palestinians in Gaza, imagining what life must be like. Now, almost one year later, the situation is beyond imagination,” Guterres said, addressing global leaders. “We have failed the people of Gaza. They are in a living hell that somehow gets even worse by the day.”

Guterres underscored the irreplaceable role of UNRWA in the region, stating: “There is no alternative to UNRWA.” He urged UN member states to increase their support for the agency, which provides essential services, including food, healthcare, and education, to millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, and surrounding regions.

The Secretary-General noted the immense challenges facing the agency, both operationally and politically, as it struggles to continue delivering aid in one of the world's most volatile conflict zones. “Two million Palestinians are now crammed into a space the size of Shanghai International Airport,” he said, describing the dire living conditions in Gaza, where residents endure “lakes of sewage, piles of rubbish, and mountains of rubble.”

Despite the adversity, Guterres praised UNRWA's resilience, pointing out that 222 of its staff have been killed in the line of duty during the current conflict, marking the highest death toll in UN history. He also criticized efforts by Israel to discredit the agency's work, including draft legislation in the Israeli Knesset seeking to classify UNRWA as a terrorist organization.

“In the face of these catastrophic conditions, UNRWA perseveres,” Guterres said, expressing his full confidence in the agency’s commitment to humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and humanity.

While acknowledging that UNRWA is not a long-term solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis, Guterres stressed the need for a political resolution to the conflict, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the establishment of a two-state solution.

“Until that moment, UNRWA remains indispensable,” he said, urging countries to provide their full support. Guterres also noted the international backing for UNRWA, with 123 countries signing a declaration of shared commitments to the agency.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, Guterres' plea for continued support for UNRWA comes at a critical time, with millions of Palestinians relying on the agency for their basic survival. (ILKHA)