Top UN officials have cautioned that the cessation of funding for UNRWA, the main aid agency in Gaza, could result in the “collapse of the humanitarian system.”
This follows the decision by the US, UK, and other nations to suspend funding due to allegations regarding the involvement of some UN staff in the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.
The UN has initiated an investigation into UNRWA, leading to the dismissal of several staff members.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused UNRWA of being “perforated with Hamas” and claimed that 13 UNRWA workers were involved in the October 7 massacre.
The US, a major UNRWA donor, expressed the desire to see the aid agency continue its vital work, emphasizing the lack of another humanitarian entity in Gaza capable of providing essential services at the scale of UNRWA.
In response to the October attack, where Hamas militants killed around 1,300 people and took hostages, Israel launched an offensive against Hamas.
The conflict has resulted in over 26,700 casualties in Gaza, with more than half of the territory’s buildings damaged or destroyed.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed an independent investigation into UNRWA is underway.
If funding is not reinstated, UNRWA warns it will be unable to sustain operations beyond the end of February.
The UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee stressed accountability for any UN employee involved in acts of terror but cautioned against withdrawing funds from UNRWA, stating it could lead to the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza with severe consequences.
UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Gaza emphasized that no other organization can replace UNRWA due to its unique “knowledge” of the population in Gaza.
Other countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Japan, have also suspended funding. Secretary-General Guterres reportedly urged reconsideration from nations that withdrew funding during a meeting with representatives of over 30 donor states.
Source-BBC
