Guyana pledges US$150,000 to support displaced Palestinians

…calls for ceasefire in Gaza as Guyana takes up February-month Presidency at UNSC

The Guyana Government on Thursday pledged US$150,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians who are displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over two million people depending on it for their daily survival.
A statement from the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Thursday states, “Guyana’s contribution to UNRWA aligns with our appeals for a more robust international response to the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and the protection of civilians impacted by the ongoing conflict. To this end, as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, Guyana supports a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The Foreign Ministry said over the years, Guyana has made several financial contributions to UNRWA, in alignment with the country’s consistent support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom and a secure homeland. Further, Guyana is a member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Not wait another day
These positions were echoed by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who said that in her national capacity, “Guyana has called for a ceasefire and Guyana will continue to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We believe that we should not wait another day for that.”
During a press conference on Thursday at the UN Headquarters in New York, Rodrigues-Birkett, who assumed presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of February, said Guyana intended to adopt a constructive approach towards the resolution of the conflict between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel which heightened in October 2023 and has since escalated.
Based on international reports, some 27,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 66,000 wounded – many of whom are women and children.
According to the UNSC President, Guyana is concerned about the humanitarian situation that the Palestinian people are facing in Gaza.
Last year, the UN passed two resolutions for humanitarian efforts to increase in Gaza, however, these are being hindered by Israel. Asked about what actions can be taken at the UNSC level to address this situation, Rodrigues-Birkett said “…for those two resolutions to be implemented, you need a ceasefire and this is why we continue to call for this. We are very, very concerned about the humanitarian situation and the access to aid, because what we know is that there is aid, but access is the problem and getting it to the people who really need it.”
Similarly, the Guyanese UN Ambassador noted that the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) also could not be adopted unless there was a ceasefire.
Following a Genocide Convention case brought by South Africa against Israel, the ICJ last week ordered the adoption of six provisional measures: take all measures within its power to prevent genocide; ensure that its military does not commit genocide; take all measures within its power to prevent and punish incitement to genocide; take immediate and effective measures to enable urgent humanitarian assistance and basic services; preserve evidence relating to allegations of acts under Article 2-3 of the Genocide Convention; and report to the Court within one month about measures taken to give effect to the order.

Ceasefire
“We have consistently called in our national capacity for a respect for international law, for international humanitarian law, and, of course, human rights, and we will continue to do so… We welcome the provisional measures of the ICJ and we look forward to the consideration of the larger matter as we go forward. We understand that that will take some years, but we are concerned of the overall situation in Gaza, of the women and children that died, of everyone that is suffering in Gaza,” the current UNSC President posited.
Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett made these remarks at Thursday’s press conference, which was hosted to brief the media on the work programme of the UN Security Council during her one-month presidency. She was questioned about another UNSC resolution drafted by Algeria, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
In response, the current UNSC President confirmed the draft resolution is being discussed. She also indicated that there was no planned visit to Gaza by the UN Security Council. In her capacity as Guyana’s Representative to the UN, she welcomed this move as appropriate.
Rodrigues-Birkett also reiterated Guyana’s support for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state should this matter come up during its one-month UNSC presidency.
Moreover, the UN Representative expressed concern over the possible spillover and heightened tension in the Middle East over the recent drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed three United States service members and injured 34 others in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border. The US has since said it was planning an extensive military response.
Nevertheless, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in its statement on Thursday evening that “The Government of Guyana looks forward to a new day for Palestinians and Israelis beyond the constant shadows of war. Guyana is prepared to work as a member of the UN Security Council and with the entire UN membership to accelerate the vision of two independent States living side by side in peace and security, and of a peaceful Middle East.” (G8)