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UN / UNRWA SCHOOL TUNNELS
STORY: UN / UNRWA SCHOOL TUNNELS
TRT: 01:51
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 12 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
12 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Farhan Haq at the podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“The Secretary-General is concerned about recent public criticism of UNRWA and the integrity of its operations. He wishes to express his support for UNRWA and his admiration for the role it plays in delivering essential services and protecting the rights of millions of Palestine refugees across the Middle East.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“UNRWA operates in the front lines of difficult conflict situations and provides education for half a million refugee girls and boys, teaching them human rights and tolerance. Its education and relief activities contribute critically to stability in the region. The Secretary-General calls on all Member States to continue their support to the Agency in order for UNRWA to be in a position to fulfil impartially and efficiently its essential role and to implement its humanitarian mandate to serve Palestinian refugees until a just and durable solution to their situation is found.”
6. Wide shot, Haq at the podium
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“UNRWA condemns the existence of such tunnels in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable that students and staff are placed in risk in such a way. The construction and presence of tunnels under UN premises are incompatible with respect to privileges and immunities owed to the United Nations under applicable international law which provides that UN premises shall be inviolable. The sanctity and neutrality of UN premises must be preserved at all times.”
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“UNRWA has taken action to seal the tunnels and we are making sure that there can be no recurrence of this sort of violation.”
10. Wide shot, Farhan Haq walks away from the podium
Secretary-General António Guterres today (12 Jun) expressed concern about “recent public criticism of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the integrity of its operations” after the discovery of a tunnel under one of its schools in Gaza.
Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said the Secretary-General “wishes to express his support for UNRWA and his admiration for the role it plays in delivering essential services and protecting the rights of millions of Palestine refugees across the Middle East.”
He said UNRWA “provides education for half a million refugee girls and boys, teaching them human rights and tolerance” and called on Member States “to continue their support to the Agency in order for UNRWA to be in a position to fulfil impartially and efficiently its essential role and to implement its humanitarian mandate to serve Palestinian refugees until a just and durable solution to their situation is found.”
Haq said “UNRWA condemns the existence of such tunnels in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable that students and staff are placed in risk in such a way. The construction and presence of tunnels under UN premises are incompatible with respect to privileges and immunities owed to the United Nations under applicable international law which provides that UN premises shall be inviolable. The sanctity and neutrality of UN premises must be preserved at all times.”
The spokesperson noted that “UNRWA has taken action to seal the tunnels and we are making sure that there can be no recurrence of this sort of violation.”
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