11 AUGUST 2021
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today¡¯s noon briefing by St¨¦phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
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Questions and Answers
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Question:? Yeah.? I’d like you to try to confirm or deny or maybe comment on a story that appeared yesterday from Gaza.? According to a story, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] asked a weapons¡ a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ ex?weapons experts from¡ what are they called¡ Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµMAS [United Nations Mine Action Service] to inspect a tunnel that was found in an Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA school in Zaitoun neighbourhood of Gaza two months ago, and Hamas blocked the inspection; and therefore, another inspection that was similarly planned for Rafah was also cancelled.? According to the story, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA said that they can’t open the school year if the inspection is not taking place.? Can you shed any light on this?
Spokesman:? No, I mean, our colleagues at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA could give you the details.? What I can tell you is that it is critical for every Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ premise anywhere in the world to be free of any weapons or anything that would put that premise at risk.
Question:? But, that tunnel in Gaza City was found two months ago, and now they are trying to inspect it but are not allowed to do that.? Is that a problem¡?
Spokesman:? Benny, as I said, on the operational details, I would ask you to ask Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA.? I can only state what our policy is.? [The Spokesman later shared a statement by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA protesting what it said was the takeover of one its schools by the de facto authorities.]? Mr.?Gladstone?
For information media. Not an official record.
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Global Communications, United Nations Mine Action Service (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµMAS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Education and culture, Gaza Strip, Governance, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Legal issues
Publication Date: 11/08/2021
URL source: /press/en/2021/db210811.doc.htm