UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Monday that 171 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the commencement of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. This marks the highest number of fatalities among UN staff in the organization’s history.
Addressing a press conference at an UNRWA girls’ school located in the Al-Wihdat Refugee Camp in Amman, the capital city of Jordan, Guterres emphasized the invaluable services provided by UNRWA.
He described UNRWA as a “lifeline of hope and dignity,” highlighting its role in educating over half a million girls and boys, delivering healthcare to approximately two million individuals, and offering a social safety net to nearly half a million of the most economically disadvantaged Palestinians.
Guterres further stressed the significant contributions of UNRWA towards promoting social cohesion, stability, and peace-building efforts in the region.
In a plea to the international community, the United Nations has urged countries that have suspended funding to UNRWA to reconsider their decisions and resume their crucial support to the UN agency.
UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering life-saving services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Near East.
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