According to an Agence France-Presse report on January 28, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres on the 27th implored donor countries to ensure the "continuity" of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Several donors announced they would stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after staff were accused of participating in Hamas' attacks on Israel last October.
Guterres said in a statement: "While I understand the concerns of these countries - and I myself am shocked by these accusations - I strongly appeal to those countries that have suspended their contributions to at least guarantee the work of UNRWA. Continuity."
reported that Israel claimed that several UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas attacks, leading some major donors to suspend funding.
UNRWA said on the 26th that it had fired several employees due to Israeli accusations and promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the accusations, but did not specify the specific circumstances.
reported that just before the dispute between Israel and UNRWA, the United Nations International Court of Justice ruled on the 26th that Israel must prevent genocide in Gaza.
Guterres said: "These staff must face the consequences of their alleged actions. But there are tens of thousands of people working for UNRWA, many of them in the most dangerous environments for humanitarian work. They should not be punished. The urgent needs of the desperate people they serve must be met."
Guterres confirmed that the allegations involved 12 UNRWA employees and were being investigated by the United Nations. He said that nine of them have been fired, one died, and "the identities of the other two are being verified."
The United States said on the 26th that it had suspended further funding to the agency because of Israel’s accusations. Donor countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have also followed the United States in stopping funding.
According to a report by the German Press Agency on January 28, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the East, warned on the 27th that due to the temporary suspension of donations by some countries, the operation to provide aid to millions of people in Gaza may stop.
Lazzarini said in a statement on the 27th: “As of today, nine countries have suspended funding to UNRWA. These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work throughout the region, especially in the Gaza Strip. Work."
The aid agency provides shelter to more than 1 million people and provides food and basic medical care.
On the evening of the 27th, Lazzarini wrote on the social media platform It is shocking to withhold funding to the agency even after some staff were charged."
He said: "The Palestinians in Gaza do not need this additional collective punishment. It taints all of us."
Source | Reference News
