Russia has accused the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, of not providing a "serious argument for her refusal" to brief the Security Council on the situation of children in the Gaza Strip at a meeting convened at Russia's request, Reuters reported.
Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, noted that the American Russell in December had constantly informed, "on a second basis", the 15-member Security Council about children in Ukraine, during the US presidency of the body.
"So it seems that for UNICEF, children in Gaza are less important than children in Ukraine," Nebenzya said. "The refusal of the head of UNICEF to inform the Security Council about the horrific tragedy involving the deaths of tens of thousands of children in Gaza is a gross act that deserves our most serious reprimand", the diplomat added to the council.
A UNICEF representative said that Russell was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, focusing on addressing humanitarian crises, and had not been able to change her schedule to inform the Security Council.
"The UNICEF Executive Director has informed the Security Council several times about the situation of children in Gaza and appreciates the Council's focus on children affected by the war," he added.
Nebenzia also accused Washington of being partly responsible for the deaths of children in Gaza after the US used its veto in the Security Council to protect Israel during the the war.
Acting US Permanent Representative to the UN Dorothy Shea rejected Nebenzia's accusations.