UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that the suspension of funding by 16 countries would put the agency's activities throughout the region at significant risk, starting from next March.

This comes amid repeated calls from the Israeli Occupation to dismantle it, which prompted 16 donors, including the United States, the largest contributor, to halt funding amounting to approximately USD 450 million.

In a letter directed to the President of the UN General Assembly, who grants the agency its mandate, Lazzarini said the agency’s ability to fulfill that mandate “is now seriously threatened”.

“In just over four months in Gaza there have been more children, more journalists, more medical personnel and more UN staff killed than anywhere in the world during a conflict”, he said.

He recalled the warning from UN experts about the imminent threat of famine.

Lazzarini also emphasized the Israeli Occupation's accusations in January against 12 UNRWA staff members, alleging their involvement in “Operation Aqsa Typhoon” on Oct. 7, 2023.

He reiterated that he promptly dismissed those accused in good faith. However, he noted that the Israeli Occupation has not provided any evidence to UNRWA to date.

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