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H Mar 1 42002 14-MRR-2002 10:06 COM-GEN'S OFFICE UNRUIft HQ 0B97286777699 P.01/04 UNITED NATIONS NATIONS U N I ES RELIEF AND WORKIRK S AGENCY FOR OFFICE DE SECOURS ET DETRAVAUX POUR LES PALESTINE REFUGEES\ IINI THE NEAR EAST REFUGIES DE PALESTINE OANS LE PROCHE-ORIENT Postal Address: H Tel: (i-972-S) 677 7700 c/o HQ Amman P.O. Box 140157 Amman 11814 - Jordan leadquarters Fax: (+972-8) 677 7699 aza 12 March 2002 Dear Mr. Riza 1 am attaching a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres regarding the occupation of UNRWA facilities in the West Bank, and restrictions on humanitarian access. You may wish to bring it to the attention of the Secretary-General. Best regards. Yours sincerely Peter Hansen Commi ssioner-General Mr. Iqbal Riza Under-S ecretary-General Chef de Cabinet cc: Mr. Kieran Prendergast I Jnder-S ecretary- General Department of Political Affairs United Nations New York Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen UN Special Coordinator for the Occupied Territories UNSCO Gaza MAR 1 42002 14/03 '02 THU 03:03 [TX/RX NO 6497] g|001 COM-GEN'S OFFICE UNRIOP HQ 0097286777699 14-MRR-2002 10'-06 UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR WJS^Sf OFFICE DE SECoURS ET D6 TRAVAUX FOUft I_ES PALESTINE REFUGEES IM THE NEAR CAST >T RSFUGiES OB PALESTINE DANS UE PROCHe-OFWENT Tei: P.O. Sox 14015? vu , , - 4508 Amman 1-, 811- Jordan UNRWA Headquarters Gaza 12 March 2002 Excellency, I would like to draw your attention to my earlier correspondence protesting IDF military operations in the JBalats and Jenin refugee camps resting with, my letter to you dated 8 March 2002. Despite our efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestine refiigees, to safeguard their basic rights in the face of recent actions by the IDF and to secure the integrity of UNHWA operations and installations, the reality on the ground is that further IDF operations have now taken place in Tulkarera, Nurshams, Dheisheh, Aida and Amari refugee camps in the West Bank resulting in numerous civilian fatalitieSj widespread destruction of property and damage to infrastructure, further occupation of UN premises and severe restrictions on humanitarian access, including the targeting of UNKVVA ambulances. On 9 March 2002 in the Tulkarem refugee camp, the IDF rounded up some 400 Palestinian males and detained them in the U7STRWA Girls school where they were guarded by 2 EDF APCs and a number of IDF soldiers on foot. This was witnessed by UNR.WA Staff members. At the time, the local IDF Liaison Officer even warned our officers that the presence of IJN staff "could damage farther IDFrtJNRAVA cooperation." The Tulkarem camp school has also been used by the IDF as a point from which to conduct military operations against the refugees and as a result the school has been damaged. I have also received similar reports concerning the JDF's seizure of UNRWA schools in the Nurshams., Aida and Amari catnps. In the Dheisheh refugee camp, I understand that all males between the ages of 15 and SO were also being rounded up aad detained. Furthermore, there were 13 male UNRWA staff members present in the Dheisheh camp within the relevant age group. In case the DDF were to persist in detaining staff members, I request that information be firsi provided to UNRWA regarding the reasons for the arrests including the main facts and the charge(s) that have been brought against them in order to assess whether the Agency's rights under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations have or have not been infringed. H.E. Mr, Shimon Peres Minister of Foreign Affairs State of Israel 14/03 '02 THU 03:03 [TX/R2 NO 6497] il002 14-MRR-2002 10:07 COM-GEN'S OFFICE UNRWfl HQ 009728S777699 P.03/04 With the information so provided, the Agency will be in a position to determine whether the charge(s) that have been brought against the staff members arise from official duties, and whether the facts discovered constitute sufficient reason for applying disciplinary or other measures against them. UNRWA asks for immediate access to the staff members concerned in order to satisfy itself as to their condition. I must also bring to your attention that there have been several cases of physical abuse and humiliation to UNRWA. staff members by the IDF. We note also the widespread damage to property including shelters, UNRWA installations and infrastructure as a, result of the IDF incursions into the camps. For instance, in the Tulkarem camp, in addition to damage to the school, there are up to 300 houses that have been partially damaged, and up to 9 houses completely destroyed. The water and electricity supply to the camp was cut, and at the time of writing, the electricity has not been restored in the camp, UNRWA's access to the refugee camps to provide humanitarian assistance is being severely restricted and, in many cases, denied altogether. In Tulkarem and Aida camps, medical and other humanitarian assistance was denied for two days. During this time, our staff received reports that there were people critically injured in the camps. The IDF has insisted that clearance be obtained before there can be access by ambulances and medical workers to camps, Even so, UNRWA ambulances have been targeted by the IDF on more than one occasion in the last week, with the most serious incident resulting in the death of an UNRWA staff member on 7 March 2002, I must emphasise that in. this case, the fatal shooting incident took place after access had been granted by the local IDF Liaison Officer for ambulances to enter the Tulkarem camp and to move between the Tulkarem camp and the Tulkarem hospital. This did not prevent the IDF firing upon the UKRWA ambulance while it was operating between the Tulkarem camp and the Tulkarem hospital, thereby causing the death of the UNRWA staff member travelling inside the vehicle. Such interference in rendering humanitarian assistance to the refugees constitutes a grave violation of the State of Israel's obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as the Convention on Privileges and Immunities and the Comay-Michelmore Agreement. While we understand that during actual exchanges of fire, access to the camps may be problematic, we would expect that when the situation has calmed., our staff would be permitted access to the camps in order to provide much needed humanitarian, including medical, assistance. The use by the IDF of UNRWA installations as military operation and detention centres also violates international obligations and derogates from the Agency's ability to discharge its functions as the UN body mandated to provide humanitarian assistance to the refugees. UNRWA cannot accept that its installations which have been constructed to help the Palestine refugees are being used to attack and imprison them. UNRWA will be seeking reparation for the damage to UNRWA installations used in this way. However, at this point the imperative is that IDFs actions be ended and that there be no repetition. Whilst protesting these violations of international obligations in as strong a manner as I am able to, I urge you to use your good offices to end the outrages being perpetrated by the IDF in the name of the State of Israel and, in particular, to call upon the IDF to desist from 14/03 '02 THU 03:03 [TX/RX NO 6497] @003 14-MRR-2002 10:53 COM-GEN'S OFFICE UNRUIfi HQ 0097286777699 P.04/04 using UNRWA installations as bases for military operations and detention centres and, furthermore, to ensure the free and safe access of UNRWA vehicles and staff to the refugee camps for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of ray highest consideration. Pe Commissioner-General cc: H.E. Mr. Benjamin Ben-Bliezer Minister of Defence State of Israel TOTfiL P.04 14/03 '02 THU 03:49 [TX/RX NO 6499].
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