|
In Gaza, While UN is Cashless Hamas Meets Its
Payroll, Ging Says, AbuZayd in Norway
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of
Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
January 13 -- The UN cannot get
cash into Gaza, despite protests from its Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon, and
therefore cannot pay its staff members. Meanwhile, the UN's John Ging
told the
Press from Gaza on Tuesday, Hamas is meeting its payroll in the Gaza
Strip.
Ging called this embarrassing, but has declined to answer Inner City
Press'
question about any steps being taken by the UN to get cash into the
Strip.
Inner
City Press asked the General Commissioner to whom Ging reports, Karen
AbuZayd, about
the entry of cash into Gaza before the current offensive by Israel
began. On October 31, 2008, AbuZayd told Inner City Press that Ban
Ki-moon
himself had to call Israel's president to push to allow currency in, to
pay the
11,000 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency.
Inner
City Press
asked
about reports that UNRWA is paying taxes to Israel, despite what are
called its
privileges and immunities. Yes, Ms. AbuZayd said, we pay, to use the
port and
taxes, to make claims, hoping to be paid back. Video here,
from Minute 49:31. Afterwards,
Inner City Press asked Ms. AbuZayd if she or Ban have pushed this tax
issue.
No, she said.
For the
past days, Ging has provided video-link briefings and responded to
questions.
Inner City Press asked him to respond to claims by Israeli diplomats
and
newspapers, that his agency UNRWA has been "taken over by Hamas," and
that Hamas has looted aid trucks at the Karem Shalom crossing. Ging has
denounced these as distractions, emphasizing that he has been provided
with no
proof. Why is only one trucking company being used? How does UNRWA
decide from
whom, and at what prices, to buy non-emergency goods in Gaza? These
questions
have not been answered.
Ging has
been steadfast in his call for international investigations and for
accountability, including for the UN if it is found to be in the wrong.
He has
not, however, fully answered how UNRWA decides who to allow into its
shelters.
Is a militant who puts down his -- or her -- gun still a militant?
Israel
targeting a building full of people because one or two might be Hamas
leaders is,
beyond the laws of war, eminently predictable. So if the UN allows in
an
unarmed Hamas-affiliated person, does it tell the people already in the
shelter? Should it?
The
briefings have been by Ging, accompanied until Tuesday by UN
humanitarian
coordinator John Holmes. Inner City Press asked Holmes a question about
the
killing of hundreds in the Congo. While Holmes to his credit answered,
the UN
Deputy Spokesperson then limited further questions to Gaza.
On
Tuesday, when
Ging had not been told in advance that Holmes would not be there, the
Spokesperson pointedly followed a questions about more killings in the
Congo by
saying, most of you are here for Gaza. The audience had dwindled for
less than
a dozen reporters. Karen AbuZayd herself was not even in the region,
but rather
in Norway. When Inner City Press asked why, Ging said it was a trip
scheduled
before this round of conflict, to raise funds. The Spokesperson quickly
introjected that AbuZayd will accompany Ban on his tour through the
region,
which will not include the Gaza Strip. We'll have more on this.
UN's Ban and Perez in November 2008, last
time UNRWA had cash for people in Gaza
Last week,
Ging and presumably AbuZayd decided to suspend the movement of UNRWA
staff.
According to Ging, these staff were ordered not to go home either. The
next
day, based on Ging's interpretation of assurances given by Israel, the
staff
were told to go back to work. Inner City Press asked him if they are
represented by a union, if they were consulted before either decision.
They
want to work, Ging said. While commendable, what if an UNRWA staffer
declined
to go back, due to danger - so they still get paid? In fact, none of
them are
getting paid so far in January. Of course, if they worked for Hamas,
their
payroll would be met...
Click here for Inner City Press'
review-of-2008 UN Top Ten debate
Click here for Inner
City Press' December 24 debate on UN budget, Niger
Click here from Inner City Press'
December 12 debate on UN double standards
Click here for Inner
City Press' November 25 debate on Somalia, politics
Click here for Inner City
Press Nov. 7 debate on the war in Congo
Watch this site, and this Oct. 2 debate, on
UN, bailout, MDGs
and this October 17 debate, on
Security Council and Obama and the UN.
* * *
These
reports are
usually also available through Google
News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here
for a Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent
about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click
here
for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali
National
Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an
undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-453A, UN, NY 10017
USA
Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile (and
weekends):
718-716-3540
Other,
earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available
in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright
2006-08 Inner City Press, Inc. To request
reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com -
|
