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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that it will not be able to continue operations in the Gaza Strip and the region after the end of February, if the funding that was suspended by Western countries is not resumed.
Yesterday, the number of countries that suspended their funding to the UN agency rose to 12, following allegations that 12 UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 attack.
The countries that suspended their funding to the agency are the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Britain, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Japan, and Austria. An agency spokesman said yesterday: “If funding is not resumed, UNRWA will not be able to continue its services and operations throughout the region, including Gaza, beyond the end of February.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East was established in December 1949, pursuant to a resolution issued by the United Nations General Assembly.
There are about 5.9 million Palestinians registered with UNRWA who can benefit from its services, which include education, health care, social services, camp infrastructure, microfinance, and emergency aid, including during periods of armed conflict.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, said that famine has become inevitable in Gaza, after some countries stopped funding for UNRWA.
Fakhri explained in a post on the “X” platform yesterday that stopping support for UNRWA means leaving 2.2 million people under the weight of hunger.
In this context, Dr. Adnan Abu Hasna, spokesman for UNRWA, said that the Commissioner-General of UNRWA had seen the allegations and information announced by Israel regarding the participation of 12 agency employees in the events of October 7.
He added, in press statements, that “the commissioner terminated the contracts of 8 employees, while the Israeli side says that two employees were killed, and other employees we do not know whether they are employees of the agency, or contractors with it, and this matter is being investigated.”
He said, “The Commissioner-General also formed an independent investigation committee, which is scheduled to look into all matters, including the issue of impartiality,” stressing that “the investigation into these allegations will be conducted by the Internal Oversight Committee at the United Nations, which is entrusted with the investigation,” stressing that the employees who Their contracts have been terminated, they can appeal this decision.
He explained that the Commissioner-General of UNRWA took the decision in the interest of the agency, and to ensure the continuation of services provided to millions of Palestinians.
Abu Hasna considered that stopping some donor countries from funding allocated to UNRWA “represents a very dangerous event, and would affect all the services provided by the agency, not only in the Gaza Strip, but also in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the West Bank.”
In addition, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urged all supporters of UNRWA to play their role in supporting humanitarian missions towards Palestinian refugees inside the Gaza Strip.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in a statement yesterday, that “the Kingdom is closely following the international repercussions regarding a number of UNRWA employees,” stressing “the importance of strengthening review and investigation procedures into these allegations, in order to come up with facts coupled with evidence, especially in light of the contributions provided by the agency’s employees.” Humanitarian sacrifices caused the death of many of them and the injury of others, as a result of the indiscriminate Israeli bombing of relief homes in the Gaza Strip and its environs.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of the agency continuing to perform its tasks in a way that ensures the provision of basic requirements for the Palestinians, to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Palestinian territories.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib also said, while receiving the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, that some countries cutting off funding for UNRWA was a “historic mistake that will constitute a threat to regional security.”
He said: “Cutting off aid to UNRWA is a historical mistake that will lead to depriving Palestinian refugees of any hope for a better life and future, and will constitute a threat to regional security and the security of host countries and donor countries alike.”
The Spanish Foreign Minister also announced yesterday that Madrid will maintain its relations with UNRWA.
Minister Jose Manuel Albarez told the House of Representatives: “We will not change our relationship with UNRWA, which is an essential United Nations agency to address the humanitarian situation.”
He added, “Spain will nevertheless follow up on the internal investigation that the UN agency announced and the results it may lead to.”
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