UNITED NATIONS (Anadolu/Xinhua) – The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says that political priorities, shifting regional dynamics and the emergence of new humanitarian crises have deprioritized the Palestinian issue.
In his briefing to the UN Security Council, Philippe Lazzarini painted a bleak picture of the situation in the Middle East amid heightened tensions.
‘’Over 80% of Palestine refugees in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza live below the poverty line,’’ he said. ‘’In Syria, after 11 years of conflict, the most destitute families are returning to live amid the rubble of their destroyed homes as they can no longer afford rent.”
Lazzarini also said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was facing a funding crisis and called for political and financial support.
“UNRWA is facing an existential threat. What is at stake?” he said. “Quality and principled education for over half a million girls and boys. Access to health care for around 2 million Palestine refugees and a social safety net for around 400,000 of the poorest amongst the poor. Psycho-social support for hundreds of thousands of children.”
Meanwhile, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Thursday called for the revival of a real political process to address the underlying drivers of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict.
The cease-fire independently declared by the Zionist regime and Palestinian Islamic Jihad following three days of military escalation in early August remains in effect, and a fragile calm has been restored in Gaza, he told the Security Council in a briefing.
The cease-fire prevented the situation from escalating into a full-scale war, which would have had devastating consequences. It also allowed for the resumption of the measures implemented over the past year that have resulted in much-needed economic relief to the people in Gaza. But a cease-fire is limited to ending immediate hostilities. The underlying drivers of the conflict are still unresolved, he said.