GENEVA: The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned that stalemate in the UNSC on the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine risked “fatally” undermining its authority, emphasizing the need for “serious reform” in the forum.
Antonio Guterres told diplomats in Geneva that the council’s lack of unity on Ukraine, and on Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip following attacks by Hamas on October 7, has severely undermined its authority.
He said that a full-scale Israeli military attack in Rafah city would deliver a death blow to the UN aid programmes in the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian help remains ” insufficient”.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UN Chief said an all-out offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city “would not only be terrifying for more than a million Palestinians sheltering there; it would also put the final nail in the coffin of the UN aid programmes”.
His remarks came as earlier, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President, Dennis Francis, has called on UN member nations to provide “sustainable financial and political support” to UNRWA, the main aid agency operating in the Gaza Strip.
The President expressed these remarks while responding to a letter from UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, said the aid UN agency has been an indispensable lifeline for millions of people in Palestine.
UNRWA provides healthcare, education and other important services to Palestinians, currently struggles to overcome the “major humanitarian crisis since its formation”.
The UN agency was alleged by Israel earlier of having connection to the October 7 attack against the occupying power.
The Israeli accusations against UNRWA, which were not publicly supported by evidence, have prompted over ten donor countries, including Germany, the US, the EU, Japan and Canada, to suspend financial help.
UNRWA stated being cut off in this way means the UN agency will run out of money altogether within few weeks.
An American intelligence assessment recently cast doubt on Israel’s allegations against UNRWA, citing Israel’s prejudice against the UN agency.
New Israeli strikes on the ravaged Gaza leave around 100 Palestinians dead, as the death toll from the attack is fast approaching 30,000.
