UNRWA Under Fire and Health-Care Privatization in Argentina
February 16, 2024
Editors' Note
In light of accusations that UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel, the agency's two biggest donors—the United States and Germany—and several other nations pulled funding, drawing into question the organization's fate and its important role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Anne Irfan, a lecturer at Oxford University's Refugee Studies Centre, and Jo Kelcey, a professor at Lebanese American University, describe how the situation reflects broader tensions between Israel and UNRWA, citing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous calls to disband the agency he refers to as an "obstacle to peace."
Turning to Argentina, journalist Jill Langlois weighs in on how Argentinian President Javier Milei's plan to privatize health care is faring in a country where 40% of the population already lives in poverty.
Next, journalist Rachel Nuwer interviews Ibrahim Abubakar, the 2023 Roux Prize recipient whose research inspired international working groups on climate change and pandemic preparedness.
Charles Umeh, founder of Parkers Resilient Health, then explains how flooding during the COVID-19 pandemic in his hometown of Onitsha, Nigeria, inspired him to establish a telemedicine organization that has "positively impacted the lives of over 15,000 people."
Wrapping up the week, Diana Picon Manyari, the international climate director for Health Care Without Harm, sheds light onto
how the health-care industry is contributing to carbon emissions and how the Conference of the Parties' Health Declaration and a potential new World Health Assembly resolution could help countries build low-carbon and resilient health systems.
Until next week!—Thomas J. Bollyky, Founding Editor, and Caroline Kantis, Associate Editor
Allegations of the organization's involvement in the October 7 attacks on Israel have put UNRWA under scrutiny and jeopardized the lives of the people it serves
