Blinken welcomes UN coordinator for Gaza

Washington (EFE).- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UN Coordinator for Aid to Gaza Sigrid Kaag met to analyze sending humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory besieged by Israel in the war against Hamas.

The meeting came after several countries, including the United States, suspended funding to some staff of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA) over their links to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered the conflict.

At the start of the meeting at State Department headquarters, Blinken said the United Nations is “an essential and important partner” in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gazans affected by the conflict.

At the same time, the head of US diplomacy stressed the need to “resolve the terrible allegations made regarding some UNRWA personnel.”

“It is absolutely necessary and we will be vigilant in doing what is necessary to deal with that situation,” he said.

Kag, appointed in December, acknowledged that his task will not be easy, but stressed that the international community cannot afford to “fail.”

The Dutch politician said there are logistical challenges to overcome due to the large amounts of aid being brought into the strip, but he also called for “safe conditions” for humanitarian workers and Gazans.

Similarly, he pointed out that humanitarian aid must be prevented from being misused to “fall into the wrong hands” and that if it does happen, action must be taken quickly, transparently and credibly.