UNRWA Chief Says Funding Suspension 'Immensely Irresponsible' Amid Worsening Humanitarian Condition in Gaza

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chief of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini regretted the decision of several countries to suspend funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians due to Israeli reports that 12 of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attack.

"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," Lazzarini told Reuters on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024.

In his statement, he urged countries to reconsider funding suspensions. "The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability," he said.

UNRWA has more than 13,000 staff, so it would be highly regrettable to halt funding for the actions of 12 individuals. 

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres vowed on Sunday to hold to account "any UN employee involved in acts of terror" after allegations that some refugee agency staffers were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

However, Guterres implored governments to continue supporting the agency after eleven countries decided to pause funding. 

"Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," the UN SecGen said in a statement. "The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation."

At the same time, he said, "The tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met."

In his first direct comments on the issue, Guterres gave details about the UNRWA staffers implicated in the "abhorrent alleged acts." Of the 12 implicated, he said, nine had been terminated, one was confirmed dead and the identities of the other two were being clarified.

Japan and France are the last to join the list of countries halting funding to the humanitarian agency following the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, the United States, Australia, and Canada after Israeli allegations.

"While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations," he said.

REUTERS | YUDONO YANUAR

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