- The subject matter will be vouched for by many since the United Nations has gradually let go of the basic tenet of its very existence, impartiality. Why? Simply because the United Nations Security Council led by five permanent members enjoying the veto power has increasingly ensured the UN charter remains largely on paper allowing the power machinations to run course. Umpteen incidents substantiate how some of the most powerful nations like the USA, China, France, and the UK have exercised the option of veto to not only stymie issues of global importance but also blatantly side with allies much to the chagrin of the rest of the global community. This has been the tale of the UN of late, which is supposed to uphold impartiality for every country, big or small.
PC: Freepik
- Looking around the world will reveal how some of the most damning conflicts underway have further eroded the UN’s relevance even as grave humanitarian challenges unfold. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, Israel-Lebanon-Iran strife and some such conflicts have severely undermined the UN. As such, Israel’s restriction on UN assistance for Palestinians, who are in a desperate situation, is unconscionable. In a huge blow to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Israel last week passed legislation that effectively bans UNRWA – UN’s Palestinian refugee agency – from operating in the Palestinian enclave and the West Bank. UNRWA is the chief aid agency for Palestinians, serving 2.5-3mn Palestinians in refugee camps spread across Gaza to Syria.
- Israel says the agency has been infiltrated by members of Hamas and terrorist organisations. Investigations have failed to establish such allegations, though UNRWA did fire nine staff members as reported. The development raises a fundamental issue about aid and helping people in distress. In most cases, aid agencies can only do their work with the support of governing administrations. In conflict zones that means granting aid workers immunity and facilitating their operations within active battlegrounds. But right from the beginning of Israel’s military operations in Gaza last year, aid workers have been caught in Israeli crosshairs. Recall the Israeli military attack on a convoy of World Central Kitchen that killed seven aid workers earlier this year.
PC: Freepik
- Similarly, more than 200 UNRWA staff have been killed in Israeli attacks since last year. Israel’s actions may now incentivize similar behaviour in other cases, jeopardizing humanitarian work. In April, the UN highlighted a shocking increase in denial of access to life-saving humanitarian aid for children in conflict zones worldwide. Besides Gaza, such intentional blocking of aid has also spiked in conflict-hit Myanmar and Sudan. Meanwhile, in Taliban’s Afghanistan, the ban on women working for the UN has similarly hampered aid work. This trend needs to be countered to save lives in the most desperate of places. At the heart of the issue is the growing trend of viewing the UN’s work as partisan and the erosion of the moral force. This must be reversed forthwith.
