New York: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) head Philippe Lazzarini has warned it has reached a dangerous phase as it struggles to deal with the war in the Gaza Strip, local media reported on Friday.
Talking to media, Philippe Lazzarini said that UNRWA has reached a breaking point as donors freeze funding, Israel uses pressure to dismantle the UN agency while humanitarian needs soar.
In a letter to the UNGA, he said that the UN Agency’s ability to fulfill the mandate given through UNGA’s resolution 302 is seriously threatened.
The UN Agency employs around 30,000 people working in the occupied territories, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
UNRWA at ‘Breaking Point’: Lazzarini
The United States, Germany, Japan and Britain have suspended funding to UNRWA in response to Israeli baseless allegations that some of its staff took part in the October 7 surprise attack on Israel.
Lazzarini disclosed that $438 million has been frozen while Israel was waging a solid attempt to destroy UNRWA.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has appointed an independent panel to evaluate whether UNRWA acts neutrally in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 29,410 Palestinians, mostly children and women, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
