GAZA (PIC)– The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has restored its services to refugees in the Gaza Strip after a short disruption because of the fighting according to a press release issued by the agency on Monday.
Speaking at a meeting of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission in Jordan Karen AbuZayd the Commissioner-General of the relief agency said: “I am delighted to announce that we are now operating in Gaza as we did before the recent violence.
UNRWA was forced to suspend temporarily all but its emergency health and food programmes following the killing of two of its workers last week. “I remain cautious but I am pleased that the security situation is returning to a point where we can get on with our job. However I am painfully aware of the potential threat to my staff on the ground and I am keeping the security situation under constant review” said AbuZayd.
Asked by journalists about media reports that the Israeli authorities planned to cut water electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza AbuZayd said “We have had no such indications from our contacts with Israeli authorities. It would not be in anyone’s interests to take measures that would aggravate the already desperate situation in Gaza”.
Commenting on the situation at the Nahr El Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon AbuZayd told the Advisory Commission that “the task ahead would result in considerable additional demands on UNRWA. Once the guns have fallen silent we will need to get into the camp and begin the long task of reconstruction. Before we can even do that we will need to clear unexploded ordnance so that the camp is safe for returning refugees”. After weeks of fighting many believe that a substantial part of the Nahr El Bared camp has been destroyed. Following an appeal two weeks ago UNRWA received pledges in excess of the 13 million US dollars requested to assist refugees fleeing Nahr El Bared to neighbouring Beddawi Camp. “We are grateful for the generosity of our donors” said AbuZayd. “The funds received will also give us a head start in planning for Nahr El Bared: it is already clear that the longer term reconstruction of the camp will take time and place new financial burdens on UNRWA”.
