For about two months, demonstrations have been held exterior the compound in east Jerusalem, an space the place many Israeli settlements are positioned.
The scenario got here to a head on Thursday night time when Israeli residents set fires at two areas across the web site. Mr. Fowler was one of many few workers within the workplace on the time.
smoke and stones
“The fireplace alarm went off and we appeared out the window and I noticed smoke billowing from the highest of the constructing,” he mentioned in Amman, Jordan, after leaving Jerusalem on Thursday night time.
Colleagues who went to place out the fireplace and stop it from spreading “had been stoned by a bunch of younger individuals who gathered on the other road.”
In the meantime, on the opposite aspect of the massive compound, one other fireplace broke out on the fence subsequent to the refueling station for UNRWA automobiles.
“If the fireplace had unfold to the gasoline station, I am unable to think about what would have occurred to the close by houses and condo buildings. We might be in a fully catastrophic scenario”.
From fiery rhetoric to ‘actual flames’
U.N. Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres and UNRWA Commissioner Filippo Lazzarini each condemned the assault, days after a protest turned violent.
“Folks gathered collectively and so they began taking sticks and rocks and performing some type of banging on the gate,” Mr. Fowler mentioned, recalling Tuesday’s demonstration. “The police are within the background”.
Whereas an investigation into the fireplace is ongoing, he pointed to wider problems with heightened tensions in UNRWA’s work following the struggle in Gaza.
“There’s a sense that this conduct is inspired, inspired, inspired by inflammatory rhetoric,” he mentioned. “so, We went from inflammatory rhetoric to precise flames in a matter of days”.
“A land of terror”
Mr Fowler mentioned the protests in opposition to UNRWA had been “sponsored by completely different organizations and people”, together with a deputy mayor of Jerusalem, and that regardless of repeated demonstrations there had been no important improve in police numbers.
Whereas upholding the proper to free speech, “even when we do not agree with what’s being shouted at us”, he mentioned issues had been “a bit Getting into the realm of intimidation”.
Demonstrators blocked the gates to the U.N. compound and at one level surrounded a employees member’s automobile brandishing toy weapons. A shuttle bus transporting U.N. employees was slapped on the aspect and spat at, and its occupants had been filmed.
broken and unprotected
So far, employees haven’t skilled any incidents of intimidation after hours. “We now have to sincerely hope that we do not get to that degree,” he mentioned.
Mr. Fowler careworn that Israel, because the occupying Energy, has a accountability to make sure that United Nations amenities are correctly protected.
“We did not assume it was going to occur,” he mentioned. “It’s clear from the proof that That is a part of a wider marketing campaign in opposition to UNRWA, mainly to undermine the company; Akin to utilizing the legislation to attempt to show that legally we have now no proper to enter our compound.
“Not going anyplace”
Regardless of the non permanent closure of the East Jerusalem workplace constructing, he insisted employees wouldn’t be prevented from finishing up their work. They made a “coronavirus-like” transformationindividuals make money working from home or different areas.
“It complicates our operations and naturally we must be utterly involved concerning the unprecedented ranges of violence within the West Financial institution and, self-evidently, the unprecedented degree of humanitarian disaster within the Gaza Strip.”
Mr. Fowler emphasised UNRWA’s mission, established by the United Nations Basic Meeting practically 75 years in the past, to supply providers to Palestine refugees, together with well being care, schooling and social assist.
“We’re happy with our work. Many people are enthusiastic about what we do.
“We do that as a result of the United Nations system has mandated us to do one thing. We’re not going anyplace till that mission not exists, it doesn’t matter what anybody desires to say”.
He added that in response to the hostilities in opposition to UNRWA, the company’s donors had made many “sturdy public statements” saying “sufficient is sufficient”.
