UN chief warns UNRWA cannot be replaced

NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterress warned today that his the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) cannot be replaced. Several countries -- including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan -- have suspended funding to the UNRWA, and Guterres has led talks with donor countries to have payments reinstated. "No other organization has a meaningful presence inside Gaza -- and nothing compared with this situation. So there is no other organization that would be able now to replace" it, Guterres told a media briefing. Guterres pointed to the cost effectiveness of UNRWA as he defended why it was the best-placed organization to continue to deliver aid to Gaza. "The costs with UNRWA are much lower than the costs with other agencies for historical reasons. The salaries paid by UNRWA are one-third of the salaries paid by UNICEF or WFP or other UN organizations," Guterres said. "So any attempt of replacement, that is not possible." Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAF A