Guterres: The Gaza war is the worst humanitarian crisis in recent decades (Reuters)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) represents a lifeline for millions of refugees in the region, while Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that invading Rafah would lead to disaster and massacre.

During a tour of one of the centers in Al-Wahdat camp in Jordan, where UNRWA provides health and educational services, Guterres said that the agency represents a lifeline of hope and dignity for millions of refugees throughout the region.

He added, "We must strive to keep the unique services provided by UNRWA flowing because that maintains hope. In a dark world, UNRWA is the only ray of light for millions of people."

UNRWA has been facing a crisis since Israel accused 12 of its employees of involvement in the attack carried out by the Palestinian resistance on October 7. These allegations prompted the United States - UNRWA's largest donor - and some other countries to halt funding, raising doubts about the agency's future. But some countries later resumed funding.

“UNRWA contributes profoundly to supporting social cohesion, promoting stability and building peace,” Guterres said. “Imagine if all of that was taken away. It is cruel and unfathomable, especially as we honor the 171 women and men of UNRWA staff who were killed in Gaza, the largest number of deaths.” Among United Nations employees in our history.

He stressed that the two-state solution is the only way to resolve the conflict in the region, describing the Gaza war as the worst humanitarian crisis in recent decades.

Al-Safadi: There is no alternative to UNRWA, and all the money provided to it contributes to saving lives (Reuters)

In a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Guterres said, “We see a growing consensus among the international community to inform the Israelis of the necessity of a ceasefire. I also see a growing consensus, from the United States and the European Union, as well as the Islamic world of course, to clearly inform the Israelis that A ground invasion of Rafah could result in a humanitarian catastrophe.”

This is the same position expressed by Al-Safadi, saying that storming Rafah would lead to “a massacre and a humanitarian massacre,” calling for an end to providing “immunity” to Israel, which does not listen to the demands of the international community not to enter Rafah.

Al-Safadi considered that there is no alternative to UNRWA, and stressed that all the money provided to it contributes to saving lives. He considered that depriving the agency of funding means contributing to the killing of Palestinian children.

Al-Safadi said that instead of sending weapons to Israel, delegations should be sent to press for a ceasefire.

Israel restricts the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially by land, causing a scarcity of food, medicine and fuel supplies and creating a famine that has claimed the lives of children and the elderly in the Strip, which it has besieged for 17 years, and which is inhabited by about 2.3 million Palestinians in catastrophic conditions.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies