Philippe Lazzarini has told reporters that the “core activities” of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) are “government-like”, making it different to other UN agencies, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Lazzarini said, “Ultimately, the substitute of the agency would be functioning public institutions”.

He noted that most UNRWA staff have civil servant-like roles, such as teachers, nurses and engineers.

“There is absolutely no UN agency which is geared to provide, in the duration, at this scope, public-like services,” he said.