UNRWA warns that “the lives of the people of Gaza” depend on the economic support they receive

The Commissioner General of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, warned on Saturday that the suspension of contributions to the organization jeopardizes its humanitarian work.

“To date, nine countries have temporarily suspended funding to UNRWA. These decisions threaten our humanitarian work across the regionespecially in the Gaza Strip,” Lazzarini warned in a statement.

The suspensions come in response to revelations about the alleged involvement of 12 UNRWA employees in the October 7 attacks on Israeli territory, which left around 1,200 dead.

“It is shocking to see these funding suspensions in response to allegations against a small group of employees, especially after immediate action was taken to suspend their contracts and a transparent and independent investigation was requested,” he added .

For all these reasons, it asks the countries that announced the suspension of funding to ‘reconsider’ their decision before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response. “The lives of the people of Gaza depend on this support, as does regional stability,” he stressed.

“UNRWA is the leading humanitarian organization in Gaza, with more than two million people who depend on it for their survival. Many are going hungry and the clock is ticking towards an impending famine. The Agency manages shelters for more than a million people, providing food and basic health care even at the height of hostilities,” Lazzarini recalls.

The head of UNRWA also recalled that Friday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice orders Israel to “take immediate and effective measures to cover basic needs and necessary humanitarian assistance in light of the adverse living conditions faced by Palestinians.” confronted.” Strip.”

“The only way to do this is through cooperation with international partners, especially UNRWA, the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza. About 3,000 essential workers out of a total of 13,000 continue to work in Gaza, providing their communities with a vital aid that could collapse at any moment due to a lack of funding,” he stressed.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterresasked this Sunday to resume financing.

“The UN is taking swift action following extremely serious allegations against several UNRWA employees. There must be consequences for these alleged abhorrent acts. But the humanitarian needs of the desperate populations UNRWA serves must be met,” the Portuguese leader said in a statement published early this year. o’clock on Sunday.

Moreover, the head of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths, defended this Saturday that “now is not the time” to abandon the people of Gaza.

Griffiths recalled that “the people of Gaza have been endured four months of unimaginable horrors and hardships” and noted that “their needs have never been greater,” while lamenting that the “humanitarian capacity (of the UN) to help them has never been more threatened.”

Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and Finland have publicly announced the suspension of UNRWA funding. At this time, the other three countries mentioned by Lazzarini are unknown. On the other hand, other countries, such as Ireland, have reaffirmed their commitment to funding UNRWA and recalled the importance of its work.