STORY: UN agencies voice strong opposition to Israel's ban on UNRWA operations
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 29, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 30, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:56
LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Palace of Nations
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AMY POPE, Director general, International Organization for Migration
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JAMES ELDER, Spokesperson, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JENS LAERKE, Spokesperson for UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JEREMY LAURENCE, Spokesperson for Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

STORYLINE:

United Nations (UN) agencies and related organizations voiced strong opposition on Tuesday to Israel's ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Knesset, the Israeli parliament, passed two laws on Monday. One barred the UNRWA from activity in Israel. The law stipulates that UNRWA could not "operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity, whether directly or indirectly" within Israeli territory. Another banned Israeli authorities from any contact with UNRWA.

At a press conference held by the UN office in Geneva, Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that for decades, UNRWA has provided essential services such as education and healthcare to residents in Gaza, playing a crucial role in their daily lives.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AMY POPE, Director general, International Organization for Migration
"UNRWA now has provided basically the backbone of infrastructure within places like Gaza. They provide education; they provide health care; they provide some of the most basic needs for people who have been living there for decades. That's not something that IOM does. UNRWA is absolutely essential to the people of Gaza."

James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund, said that if UNRWA is unable to operate, it is likely that the humanitarian system in Gaza will collapse, adding that "a decision such as this suddenly means that a new way has been found to kill children."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JAMES ELDER, Spokesperson, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
"Just from a UNICEF point of view, in terms of the amount of aid that we distribute across the Gaza Strip, so much with the support of UNRWA. So to be very clear, if UNRWA is unable to operate, it would likely see the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza. UNICEF would become effectively unable to distribute lifesaving supplies. So decisions such as this, suddenly means that a new way has been found to kill children."

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that the Israeli decision "is wrong for a number of reasons," but first and foremost for the millions of Palestinians.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JENS LAERKE, Spokesperson for UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
"Outpouring from principles in the United Nations system, I'm just looking at some of them, calling UNRWA. There is no alternative, crucial. Only UNRWA has the mandate, a vital lifeline and so on and so forth. From my boss, Joyce Msuya, the acting under-secretary-general, she said last night, full solidarity with UNRWA and its brave teams whose work is essential, two million Palestinians, the decision is dangerous, and it is outrageous. There is no alternative to UNRWA."

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed ongoing concerns about Israel's compliance with international law.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JEREMY LAURENCE, Spokesperson for Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
"The high commissioner this morning actually just spoke on this. He said this decision is deeply troubling for many reasons. He said this is having a potential dire impact on the human rights of those depending on UNRWA assistance. If I may go one step further and just say our office has repeatedly raised concerns about Israel's compliance with international law, but can also point to its obligations under a range of human rights treaties, including the cornerstone, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Israel is a party to. To this extent, without UNRWA, the delivery of food, shelter, healthcare, and education, amongst other things, to most of Gaza's population would grind to a halt. Civilians have already paid the heaviest price of this conflict over the past year. Cruelly, this decision will only make matters worse for them, far worse."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Geneva, Switzerland.
(XHTV)