UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the significance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as the “backbone” of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Guterres made these comments during a meeting with a UN committee on Palestinian rights. The comments came in the aftermath of several countries suspending their funding to UNRWA following Israeli claims that 12 of its staffers participated in attacks on October 7.
In response to the funding suspension, Guterres engaged with donors, acknowledging their concerns and outlining steps taken to address them. The heads of various UN agencies issued a joint statement warning that withholding funding for UNRWA would be “perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza.”
UNRWA Funding Controversy
Countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan suspended payments in light of the allegations about UNRWA staffers.
UN Gaza aid coordinator Sigrid Kaag defended UNRWA, emphasizing that there is no other organization capable of substituting its tremendous capacity in Gaza. Kaag’s statement came in response to accusations against UNRWA.
