UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is facing funding cuts after Israeli authorities accused several of its staff of involvement in a Hamas attack on October 7. The agency, which provides crucial assistance to two million people in Gaza, has had nine out of 12 staff terminated over the allegations. The UN has expressed shock at the swift funding cuts by several Western countries amid a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly four months of conflict with Israel. The UN and Palestinian officials are calling for continued funding for UNRWA’s essential work.
UNRWA, established in 1949, operates in various countries in the Middle East to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. It largely relies on voluntary contributions from countries worldwide and the European Union. In 2022, the EU represented 94.9 percent of all contributions to the agency. However, the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland have all cut funding to UNRWA, while Ireland and Norway have expressed continued support.
Amid the controversy, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini emphasized the immense responsibility of the agency and the community it serves. The UN and Palestinian officials have called for continued funding for the agency’s crucial work, emphasizing the importance of providing assistance to Palestinians in desperate need.