Human Rights Watch Warns of Imminent Famine Risk in Gaza Amid UNRWA Aid Suspension

Human Rights Watch has stated that governments should continue funding UNRWA due to its role in avoiding a humanitarian disaster and the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip, despite allegations involving 12 of its employees in the Hamas attack, according to Russia Today. Akshaya Kumar, Director of Crisis Advocacy at Human Rights Watch, stated, "The allegations against UNRWA employees are serious, and it seems the United Nations is taking them seriously. However, withholding funds from the agency most capable of providing essential food, water, and medical supplies immediately to over 2.3 million people in Gaza shows a cruel indifference to the looming famine danger that top experts in the world have warned about." She pointed out that "despite the increasing risks of famine and the mandatory order issued by the International Court regarding genocide, the Israeli foreign minister has now openly announced that he will seek to close the UN agency that bears the greatest responsibility for delivering life-saving assistance," emphasizing that "unless governments reverse their decisions to suspend aid to UNRWA, the main humanitarian channel to Gaza, they risk contributing to the ongoing disaster."