The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, cautioned against the repercussions of slashing funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
The warning comes in the wake of allegations implicating some of the agency's staff in the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel.
UNRWA Funding Crisis
Several nations, including the United States, Britain, and Italy, have opted to suspend funding to UNRWA. The agency, in response, has initiated an internal investigation involving thousands of its employees, severing ties with those implicated.
However, the situation has escalated, with UNRWA declaring on Thursday that its entire operations in the Middle East, not confined to Gaza alone, could face closure by the end of February if funding remains suspended.
In a blog post, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that defunding UNRWA would be both disproportionate and perilous. He vehemently opposed the idea that the alleged wrongdoing of certain individuals should result in the collective punishment of an entire population.
Borrell clarified that as of now, neither the European Commission nor the two largest economies within the EU, Germany and France, have decided to terminate their contributions to UNRWA. However, funds on hold by other donors constitute a staggering sum, surpassing $440 million, which accounts for nearly half of the agency's anticipated income for the year, as per to The Irish Times.
EU's Vital Support to UNRWA
Communicating the important role of the EU, Borrell stated that in 2022, the EU ranked as the third-largest contributor to UNRWA, trailing only the United States and Germany. He highlighted the severe impact of the funding pause, emphasizing that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, beyond just Gaza, are at stake.
Established in 1949 in the aftermath of the war surrounding the founding of Israel, UNRWA was tasked with addressing the needs of 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were displaced from their homes.
The agency employs 30,000 Palestinians to attend to the civic and humanitarian requirements of the 5.9 million descendants of those refugees, spanning the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and extensive camps in neighboring Arab countries.
Expressing confidence in the UN's ability to take appropriate measures in response to Israeli allegations, Borrell concluded by asserting his belief that UNRWA will persist as a crucial lifeline for millions of Palestinian people. As the international community grapples with these challenges, the fate of UNRWA and the well-being of countless Palestinians remain uncertain, according to Reuters.
