BRUSSELS: European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday termed as ill-advised, the move to suspend the funding of UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.
He strongly believed the move would be both disproportionate and dangerous.
He added that as some important donors have suspended funding, there is a wide acknowledgment that UNRWA is key to providing vital aid to more than 1.1 million people in Gaza suffering from catastrophic hunger and the outbreak of diseases.
Borrel warned defunding the aid agency would put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.
He added that the agency has taken immediate measures and launched an investigation, terming the allegations serious and must not go unpunished if true.
More than a dozen states, including major donors the United States, Germany, Britain and Sweden, having suspended funding to UNRWA over allegations that 12 of staff members were involved in the October 7 attack.
UNRWA warns to cease operations
The aid agency which has received a Norwegian nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize has warned it will have to cease operations by the end of February if funding not restored.
UNRWA is a critical lifeline for millions of Palestinians suffering from catastrophic hunger and the outbreak of diseases. An independent investigation into allegations is needed, but defunding would amount to collective punishment.
Read my new blog post: https://t.co/CAcNV3HWoa pic.twitter.com/8L5iRmChsu— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 4, 2024
Borrell went on to say that total suspend funds amount to more than $440 million, or around half the agency’s expected funds for 2024.
He said such a shortfall could put the agency’s very existence into danger.
Since October 7, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in an unprecedented death toll, with at least 27,365 people killed in Gaza, mostly women and children. Rafah, which once housed 200,000 people, now hosts more than half of Gaza’s population, contributing to a dire humanitarian situation.
