Largest aid organisation in Gaza “desperate” after funding stopped

Several countries have ceased funding the largest UN organization in Gaza due to accusations against some staff members for their alleged involvement in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. This is making the crisis in Gaza worse.

Japan and Austria have decided to temporarily stop giving money to the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

The US, UK, Germany, and Italy have also stopped giving money.

UNRWA told the media that they are very desperate and that the needs for help in Gaza are getting bigger all the time.

The company fired some of its employees because they were accused of being involved in an incident on 7 October, when Hamas fighters entered Israel, killing about 1,300 people – most of whom were not military and taking about 250 others as hostages back to Gaza.

More than 26,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since Israel started a big military operation. Hamas runs the health ministry in the territory. Another 17 million people have left their homes, and many of them are staying at UNRWA buildings for shelter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is really upset by the accusations, but he asked donor countries to make sure that UNRWA can keep working.

On Sunday, he said that 9 out of the 12 people involved were fired by the UNRWA’s leader. One person has died and they are figuring out who the other 2 people are.

He said Gaza should not be punished. Because of the current funding, in February the agency will not have enough money to help all of the two million people in Gaza who rely on it for important assistance.

Japan’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that they are very worried about UNRWA staff members being involved in a terror attack on Israel. They have decided to stop giving money to UNRWA.

It said it had been pushing UNRWA to look into the claims quickly and thoroughly.

In 2022, Japan is the sixth highest contributor to UNRWA.

On Monday, Austria also said it wants a thorough and fast investigation into the accusations.

Juliette Touma, who is in charge of talking to people for UNRWA, told our reporters that the claims were very serious. She also said that Mr. Lazzarini did something very unusual by firing the staff members right away.

We are very, very worried. “It came at a time when the people in Gaza need help more and more,” she said. She also mentioned that she had been to Gaza herself last week.

“People are still being forced to leave their homes and move somewhere else. ” People don’t have enough food to eat. The clock is moving quickly towards a food shortage.

We are doing everything we can to prevent famine. “We don’t have enough money because the biggest donors have stopped giving for now. This will have a very big impact on the important work we are doing to help people in Gaza. ”

She said UNRWA hasn’t seen the proof, but the claims are being looked into by the UN’s oversight office in New York.

On Friday, a person who gives advice to the leader of Israel told the media that the Hamas attacks on 7 October involved “people who are getting paid by UNRWA”.

Mark Regev said there was evidence that teachers at UNRWA schools were openly celebrating the attacks that happened on October 7th.