ICRC and UNRWA: Different Mandates, No Takeover by ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) does not intend to replace the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza (UNRWA), according to the ICRC's director general.
UNRWA faced controversy in January when Israel accused 12 of its employees of involvement in Hamas attacks, resulting in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians.
Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza led to nearly 35,000 deaths, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory's health ministry.
The ICRC will not assume UNRWA's responsibilities.
The UN fired staff members accused of links to terrorist organizations in UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) following an investigation.
ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and UNRWA have different mandates, and ICRC cannot take over UNRWA's responsibilities.
Last week, a report led by French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna concluded that Israel failed to provide sufficient evidence linking some UNRWA employees to terrorist organizations, such as Hamas.
UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, plays a vital role in providing food to Palestinian refugees, who are defined as Palestinians who fled or were expelled during Israel's creation in 1948 or their descendants.
However, in March 2023, UNRWA faced a crisis as Israel called for its dismantling, major donors froze their funding due to Israeli accusations, and the people of Gaza faced a desperate humanitarian situation.
UNRWA's head, Philippe Lazzarini, stated that the organization had "reached a breaking point."