The problem, according to company sources, is that the announcements were made by some of the agency's largest donors, prompting its directors to organize emergency meetings to understand how the operation's accounts for care for 2.2 million people look in Gaza.
Together, the countries that announced the suspension of funds are responsible for a large part of the institution's budget. For example, in 2022, the agency received $1.1 billion for its activities. $425 million came from these governments, which have now decided to suspend their transfers. If you include the EU, that would mean an additional $114 million.
“To date, nine countries have temporarily stopped funding UNRWA. These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General.
“It is shocking to see that the agency’s funding has been suspended in response to allegations against a small group of staff, particularly given the immediate action taken by UNRWA to terminate their contracts and call for an independent and transparent investigation.” , he said.
“I call on countries that have suspended their funding to reconsider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian assistance. The lives of the people of Gaza depend on this support, as does regional stability,” pleaded the head of the organization.
“The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative agency in the UN system, has already been tasked with this very serious matter,” he assured.