The United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday received an update from the Office of Internal Monitoring (OIOS) that several UNRWA staff are suspected of complicity in the October Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 people and captured 240 in Israel. The investigation began last month. hostage.
According to the latest information, so far the investigating authorities have considered initial information from various sources, including information released through the media and other public authorities, and have approached the Member States concerned for further information. I've been in touch.
In Jordan's capital Amman, investigators visited UNRWA headquarters to review initial information the agency had received from Israeli authorities. Investigators also examined information and communications technology data, including email records and information about the agency's vehicles.
There is sufficient cooperation.
The UN spokesperson added that cooperation from member states with the investigation has so far been sufficient.
“Oios is [continue to] “Additional information will be sought and corroborated and the information obtained will be compared with material held by the Israeli authorities, which OIOS expects to receive shortly,” he said.
Dujarric said OIOS, the UN's main internal investigation agency, became active on January 29, the day the secretary-general ordered the unit to undertake the effort.
Since Israel made these allegations, UNRWA has fired the accused staff and launched its own independent investigation, which is expected to be announced in late April.
Pending an investigation, many major donor countries have suspended funding to UNRWA, which operates on voluntary donations, and the agency's director general, Philip Lazzarini, has warned that a lack of funding has led to Rescue efforts for the 2 million Palestinians trapped in the devastated Gaza Strip have already been affected, he said. are on the verge of starvation.
Benin joins multinational support force in Haiti
Focusing on the situation in Haiti, which has suffered mass violence, a UN spokesperson said Benin intends to contribute personnel to a new multinational assistance mission ordered by the Security Council in the crisis-hit Caribbean country. It is the latest country to officially confirm the situation.
To date, he said, $10.8 million in contributions have been deposited into the Multinational Security Assistance Trust Fund to operate the mission.
“We are also encouraged by the nearly $78 million pledged directly to the Fund in recent days, and we continue to contribute to member states to ensure the successful deployment of missions.” “We encourage them to do so,” he said.
The mission will provide security assistance to the Haitian government's efforts to protect civilians and address multiple crises in which armed groups are in control of large parts of the country.
Dujarric said that in addition to the contribution of Benin personnel, as of Wednesday, the United Nations had received notices to send staff from the governments of the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad.
Gunfight intensifies in Chad's capital
And looking to Chad, concerns are rising following reports of violence and gunfire in the capital, N'Djamena.
Abdou Abari, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa, said in a statement that he was following the unfolding events with great concern.
He called on all parties to show calm and restraint, especially as Chad enters the final stages of its political transition.
With presidential elections scheduled for May 6, Mr. Abary pledged himself and the entire United Nations system to continue supporting the efforts of the Government and people of Chad to ensure a peaceful, inclusive and credible electoral process. He reiterated that he would continue to provide support.
Opposition leader death report
Media reports on Thursday said opposition leader Yaya Dilo was killed in a gunfight in N'Djamena.
He is a cousin of Chad's military ruler Mahamat Idriss Deby Into, whose father Idriss Deby succeeded him in 2021 after ruling the landlocked country bordering North and Central Africa for 30 years.
According to reports, Dilo has been blamed for a deadly attack on Chad's main security agency, but he has denied any involvement.
According to reports, he was widely believed to be the president's main political opponent in the next vote.