Aside from a political resolution, which must be made by the Basic Meeting, “there isn’t any means any group can change or substitute the super capability and the material of UNRWA and its potential and information,” Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, advised correspondents at a stakeout exterior the Security Council Chamber in New York.
She additionally famous the important thing position the company has performed over many years, earlier than the present battle, in training, healthcare and different companies. UNRWA was established by the Basic Meeting in December 1949.
UNRWA’s operations are in jeopardy after a number of donor nations, together with the US, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, suspended funding within the wake of extraordinarily severe allegations that a number of of its workers had been concerned within the 7 October terror assaults in Israel.
The Group has initiated an investigation, and the Secretary-Basic has reiterated that any worker discovered to be concerned will likely be held accountable, together with via 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 position pursuant to Council resolution 2720 (2023).
Her mandate is to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian aid consignments to Gaza in addition to set up a UN mechanism to speed up humanitarian aid shipments to the enclave via States which aren’t occasion to the battle.
Ms. Kaag underscored that the success of her mandate “is concerning the potential to attain 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 help efforts and inflicting delays.
“At the moment, there isn’t any house, given the truth that there isn’t any ceasefire there and the battle is raging. There is no such thing as a house to have screens throughout Gaza to work with the businesses to see, to confirm and monitor.”
She additionally reiterated the significance of accelerating the circulation of business items into Gaza along with humanitarian help.
“Business items must be allowed again in,” she mentioned. “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-Basic 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-Basic with the UN Growth 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 Overseas Minister.
