UNRWA chief urges countries to reconsider ‘shocking’ decision to pull funding

Commissioner-general of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini urges countries to reconsider their suspension of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, saying that their decision threatens the “ongoing humanitarian work” in Gaza.

Lazzarini’s request comes after nine countries announced that they were pulling funding due to alleged involvement by several staff members in Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught in southern Israel.

“It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” he says.

“UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over 2 million people depending on it for their sheer survival. Many are hungry as the clock is ticking towards a looming famine,” he adds.

“It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region. ”