HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY FARHAN HAQ, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
THURSDAY, 24 JULY 2014
SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY ATTACK ON U.N. SCHOOL IN GAZA
- In remarks to the press made in Erbil, Iraq, the Secretary-General said that he is appalled by the news of an attack on a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school in Northern Gaza where hundreds of people had taken refuge. Many have been killed – including women and children, as well as UN staff.
- In his briefing to the Security Council from Ramallah just two days ago, the Secretary-General condemned Hamas rocket fire and called on Israel to exercise particular care to avoid just such an attack on United Nations premises where civilians have taken refuge. More than 100,000 Gazans – 5 percent of the total population – have sought refuge in UNRWA facilities.
- He once again says all sides must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to respect the sanctity of civilian life, the inviolability of UN premises and to honour their obligations to humanitarian workers. Today’s attack underscores the imperative for the killing to stop – and to stop now.
- Asked about the casualties at the school, the Spokesman said it was not yet clear who was responsible for the attack. He added that hundreds of civilians had sought shelter at the school, and a large number had been killed or wounded.
- He said that the school was a designated UNRWA facility and underscored the inviolability of all UN premises. UNRWA, he later added, is now hosting more than 140,000 people in its facilities in Gaza.
- Asked what the Secretary-General would do in response, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had made clear that he would stay in the region and continue to push for a ceasefire. The Secretary-General has been emphatic about the need for a halt to the fighting, after which efforts could be made to deal with the root causes of the conflict.
- Asked about the disappearance of weapons from an UNRWA facility, the Spokesman noted the statement issued on Wednesday on that matter.
- He said that the Relief and Works Agency said that, as soon as a second cache of weapons was discovered on Tuesday,
- UNRWA immediately informed all relevant parties and issued a statement strongly condemning the abuse of its premises. It evacuated the premises and placed a guard at the gate. At the same time, it began intensive consultations to find an international actor to help survey the weapons so the extent of the problem could be ascertained and a safe disposal plan developed. There were 1,500 displaced civilians in schools on either side of the installation and their safety was paramount.
- Haq said that UNRWA staff did not re-enter the installation until the following day when displaced people from Beit Hanoun forced open the school seeking refuge. At that point, its staff went to secure the area in which the weapons had been discovered the previous day and found they had been removed.
- Asked about UN policy on how to deal with weapons caches, Haq noted that prior to last week, weapons had not been found on UNRWA premises, and he reiterated the condemnation of the violation of UNRWA premises.
- He said that the Secretary General has initiated a full review of such incidents and how the UN responds in such instances and is taking concerted action to develop systems to increase the ability to prevent any violations.
- In order to achieve this, the Secretary-General has directed the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) and the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to develop immediately and implement an effective security plan for the safe and secure handling of any weapons discovered in UN premises. Further, he has directed UNMAS to immediately deploy personnel with expertise to deal with this situation.
- Following instructions from the United Nations Secretary-General, UNMAS is preparing to deploy a team of explosive ordnance disposal experts to Gaza in support of UNRWA and civilians impacted by the conflict. The team – and equipment that will be needed – is being mobilised and will arrive in Gaza in the coming days.
- Haq added that news has come through that three UNRWA staff have been killed in the current conflict. All three were teachers: two women killed along with members of their families by incoming Israeli fire while inside a residence, the third while reportedly walking home after working in one of our emergency shelters.
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Document symbol: NoonBriefing_240714
Document Type: Briefing, Highlights of the Noon Briefing
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Casualties, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Internally displaced persons, Population, Protection, Refugees and displaced persons, Security issues, Shelter
Publication Date: 24/07/2014
Document Type: Briefing, Highlights of the Noon Briefing
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Casualties, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Internally displaced persons, Population, Protection, Refugees and displaced persons, Security issues, Shelter
Publication Date: 24/07/2014