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UNRWA head resigns over misconduct allegations

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl denies wrongdoing, saying the aid agency is the victim of a political campaign.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. Source: unrwa.org.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. Source: unrwa.org.

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced his resignation on Wednesday, following allegations of sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination and other abuses of authority.

The United Nations said in a statement that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl had resigned with immediate effect after an internal investigation uncovered “management issues.” Krähenbühl, a Swiss national, denied all wrongdoing and claimed that the Palestinian aid agency was the victim of a political campaign, Reuters reported on Thursday.

“I have rejected these allegations from the start and will continue to do so,” he said in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS on Wednesday evening. “There is no corruption, fraud or misappropriation of aid.”

The United States and Israel have accused the agency of corruption and anti-Israel incitement.

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