August 4, 2014
Dr. Ashrawi Meets with UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl
“We condemn Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of UN institutions, in particular UNRWA schools, which have been designated
as safe havens for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been forcibly expelled by Israel’s wanton
destruction of their homes and neighborhoods. Israel’s war crimes have resulted in the killing of 1,841 Palestinian men,
women and children (including 9 UNRWA staff members) and the wounding of more than 9,400 Palestinians.”
PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, made these comments during a meeting with Pierre Krähenbühl,
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, at the PLO Headquarters in
Ramallah.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi thanked UNRWA for its selfless and tireless efforts in assisting the Palestinian people, and
both Dr. Ashrawi and CG Krähenbühl discussed the disastrous humanitarian conditions in Gaza, UNRWA’s work and the
enormous challenges facing UNRWA in its attempt to provide the basic minimal requirements of shelter, food and
sanitation to a battered and traumatized population.
Dr. Ashrawi called on the international community to increase its support for UNRWA in fulfilling its obligations and
also called for immediate intervention to hold Israel accountable for this ruthless assault and deliberate massacres
taking place against the captive people of Gaza.
Both parties agreed that UNRWA and all the concerned parties, particularly the Palestinian leadership (the PLO and the
government of national accord), will work together to provide immediate relief, as well to alleviate the immense
suffering in Gaza and to provide for the longtime reconstruction of Gaza. The meeting also stressed continued
Palestinian-UNRWA coordination and cooperation and enhanced consultations on issues of mutual interest.
ENDS