UN officials and aid organizations urged countries on Sunday to reconsider their decision to halt funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), warning that the life-saving assistance provided by the agency to nearly two million people in Gaza is now under threat. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called on nations to "rethink their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response."
Yamen Hamad, who has been living in a school run by UNRWA that has become a shelter for displaced persons in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza since fleeing from northern Gaza, stated, "We used to say that Israel waged a war of starvation against us alongside a war of destruction. Now, these countries that decided to suspend aid to UNRWA are declaring themselves partners in this war and collective punishment."
Michael Fakhri, a UN-appointed expert on the right to food, warned that the funding cuts mean that famine has now become "inevitable" in Gaza. No signs have yet emerged of a response from countries to the UN's call to resume aid. However, Norway and Ireland stated that they would continue to finance the agency.
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern on Sunday over the decision by some countries to suspend funding for UNRWA and urged those nations to reconsider their decision. The ministry's statement noted that the funding suspension primarily harms Palestinian civilians, adding, "Working under extremely difficult conditions, UNRWA meets essential needs for millions of Palestinian refugees. Since October 7, more than 150 UNRWA staff members have been killed by Israel in Gaza."
