UNRWA Gaza Director Praises Russia for Humanitarian Effort, Political Settlement Help
Russia has played an important role in ensuring Gaza receives humanitarian aid and looking for a political solution for the regional issues, Matthias Schmale, the director for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, told Sputnik.
"I think the responsibility of the international community is twofold ... I think a part of the role of international community is advocacy, is influencing the dialogue, including holding Israel accountable for needing to be a part of finding a political solution and not blocking it. The other part of the international community's responsibility is providing support including the humanitarian aid ... And [Russia] is an important player in both respects. Russia has massively supported UNRWA and with a multi-year commitment," Schmale said.
The UN official added that the Russian government was very involved on the political level in the attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Russia for sure is an important member state of the United Nations and is an important partner for UNRWA. In our work we acknowledge that very much. I don't think you have any major political process in the world and certainly not in the middle East where Russia does not need to be involved if we want to move forward," Schmale said.
The UNRWA Gaza director added that such organizations as his would require the support of the international community until a political solution to a decades-long territorial conflict has been found, to help ensure that food, education and healthcare are being provided to the people in need.