Nine European countries including the UK put a halt on the backing for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East( UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were engaged in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
As reported by Reuters, the move follows similar conduct taken by the United States, Australia, and Canada, impacting backing for the aid agency vital for supporting individualities in Gaza, as
these allegations were raised by Israel.
The agency said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several workers and severed ties
with those people.
The UK Foreign Office said it was temporarily breaking backing for UNRWA while the allegations were reviewed and noted London had condemned theOct. 7 attacks as” heinous” terrorism.
Encouraging farther patron suspensions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said UNRWA should
be replaced, formerly fighting in the enclave, dies down and incriminating it of ties to Islamist
crusaders in Gaza.
Prophet Farhan Haq, asked about Katz’s reflections, said, “ We are not responding to rhetoric.
UNRWA overall has had a strong record, which we have constantly underscored.”
Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWA expressed concern that the choice made by the nine nations jeopardized the humanitarian factory of the organization throughout the region, with a particular impact on its work in Gaza.
“ It’s shocking to see a suspension of finances to the Agency in response to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent exploration,” he said in a statement.
UNRWA part in Gaza aid
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East( UNRWA), attachment agency created by the United Nations( UN) General Assembly in 1949 to help
Palestine refugees attain their full potential in human development under the arduous circumstances in which they live . It helps Gaza’s2.3 million population and has played a vital aid
part during the current war.
In his announcement of the exploration on Friday, Lazzarini stated that he would decide to end the contracts of certain labor forces as a measure to guard the agency’s capacity to give humanitarian aid.
Likewise, Lazzarini did not expose the number of workers allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement.
He said, still, that “any UNRWA hand who was involved in acts of terror” would be held responsible, including through lawless prosecution.
Comments 1