Aside from a political resolution, which must be made by the Normal Meeting, “there isn’t any method any group can exchange or substitute the large capability and the material of UNRWA and its capacity and information,” Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, informed correspondents at a stakeout exterior the Security Council Chamber in New York.
She additionally famous the important thing function the company has performed over many years, earlier than the present battle, in schooling, healthcare and different providers. UNRWA was established by the Normal Meeting in December 1949.
UNRWA’s operations are in jeopardy after a number of donor international locations, together with the US, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, suspended funding within the wake of extraordinarily severe allegations that a number of of its employees have been concerned within the 7 October terror assaults in Israel.
The Group has initiated an investigation, and the Secretary-Normal has reiterated that any worker discovered to be concerned will likely be held accountable, together with by prison prosecution.
First look
Ms. Kaag’s remarks to the press adopted her first closed-door briefing to the Safety Council since taking over her key coordination function pursuant to Council resolution 2720 (2023).
Her mandate is to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian reduction consignments to Gaza in addition to set up a UN mechanism to speed up humanitarian reduction shipments to the enclave by States which aren’t celebration to the battle.
Ms. Kaag underscored that the success of her mandate “is concerning the capacity to realize and meet the wants” of the civilians in Gaza.
“That’s the solely indicator, so far as I’m involved.”
Challenges on the bottom
Ms. Kaag emphasised that the absence of a humanitarian ceasefire is hampering assist efforts and inflicting delays.
“At the moment, there isn’t any area, given the truth that there isn’t any ceasefire there and the battle is raging. There isn’t any area to have screens throughout Gaza to work with the businesses to see, to confirm and monitor.”
She additionally reiterated the significance of accelerating the movement of economic items into Gaza along with humanitarian help.
“Industrial items have to be allowed again in,” she stated. “There will likely be no restoration, not to mention reconstruction in future, with out that broad bandwidth.”
Seasoned humanitarian
Ms. Kaag of the Netherlands has held a variety of senior positions within the UN system. She was appointed by the Secretary-Normal on 26 December 2023 and commenced her task on 8 January.
She was Particular Coordinator for Lebanon from 2015 to 2017 and from 2013 to 2015, the top of the Joint UN-Group for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Mission in Syria.
She additionally served as Assistant Secretary-Normal with the UN Improvement Programme (2010-13) and was UNICEF Regional Director for the Center East and North Africa (2007-10).
Previous to that, Ms. Kaag held a number of senior positions with the UN Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) and UNRWA.
She speaks fluent Arabic and 5 different languages.
She additionally held many senior roles within the Dutch Authorities, together with as Deputy Prime Minister and International Minister.
