UN Appeals for Aid Amid Funding Cuts for Palestinian Refugees
U.N. officials and humanitarian organizations issued urgent appeals on Sunday for countries to reconsider their decision to halt funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians, warning that vital aid for around two million people in Gaza was at risk.
Following allegations by Israel implicating some of its staff in the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, at least nine countries, including major donors like the United States and Germany, have suspended funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Expressing his dismay over the accusations, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need to hold any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror accountable. He appealed to the governments that suspended their contributions to ensure the continuation of UNRWA's operations.
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, echoed this sentiment, urging countries to reconsider their decisions to avoid a potential suspension of critical humanitarian aid.
The situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire, with over 26,000 people killed in Israel's military campaign against Hamas. Aid inflows, including essential supplies like food and medicine, have dwindled to a fraction of pre-conflict levels. Consequently, preventable diseases are on the rise, and the risk of famine looms large, according to aid officials.
UNRWA's assistance has become indispensable for most of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants, with approximately one million seeking refuge in its facilities following Israeli airstrikes.
Palestinians in Gaza expressed frustration and anger at the funding cuts, viewing them as contributing to collective punishment in the midst of conflict and hardship.
Yamen Hamad, residing in an UNRWA-operated school in Deir Al-Balah, emphasized the impact of the funding suspension on already vulnerable populations, stating that it exacerbates the challenges faced by Gazans.
Michael Fakhri, a U.N.-appointed expert on the right to food, warned that the funding cuts increased the likelihood of famine in Gaza.
Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz called for UNRWA to be replaced and urged more countries to withhold funding, although Israel has not disclosed specifics about UNRWA staff members' alleged involvement in the October 7 attack.
Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq refrained from directly addressing Katz's remarks but reiterated UNRWA's longstanding commitment to humanitarian assistance.
Guterres revealed that 12 UNRWA staff members were implicated in the allegations, with nine terminated, one deceased, and the identities of the remaining two under clarification.
Despite urgent appeals, there is no immediate indication that countries will reinstate aid. However, Norway and Ireland pledged to continue their support for UNRWA.
UNRWA, established to aid refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, delivers education, health, and other essential services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
