UNRWA sponsors halt funding after terror allegations | DW News

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on donor states to "guarantee the continuity" of the operations of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). The plea came after multiple countries paused their funding for the organization following Israeli allegations that some of the agency's staffers were involved in the terror attacks on Israel carried out by Hamas militants on October 7.

"While I understand their concerns — I was myself horrified by these accusations — I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations," Guterres said in a statement.
He also vowed that "any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."
France became the latest country to suspend funding for the embattled agency, with its foreign ministry saying it "will decide when the time comes of the action to take together with the United Nations and the main donors,"
Germany, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland suspended their funding to the aid agency on Saturday.
That followed a similar move by the United States, Australia and Canada.
"These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip," the organization's head, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that 2 million people in Gaza depend on aid from the UNRWA and that this operation is now "collapsing."
The UN agency employs around 13,000 people in the besieged territory and has been the main source of humanitarian aid for Gaza's population.

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[elizapourian]

They should investigate Antonio Guterres also, he never condemned Hamas!

[Fiona]

why doesn't he call Arab League to sponsor instead? They have so many talks but done so little to help.

[mayuleellaisri]

Middle east rich with oil let theys help.

[TOURS]

Rich arab countries should support unrwa not Europe n US

[cate]

The West is not obligated to support terrorists. Palestinians need to shape up and abstain from radicalism and terrrorism!

[CastleLager-lfeu]

Don't care. Let Qatar and Saudi pay for them instead of sportswashing.

[ironknee]

He should be putting in his resignation.

[simonyyy]

The UN has been warned about the strong connection between UNRWA and Hamas for many years. They seem to take this issue seriously only when affects their bottom line.

[AyuHorlin-Smith]

It's not the West problem. Arab and Iran can help them

[svgilkog]

120 million a month from unrwa
50 million a month from EU

30 million a month from America

30 million a month from Qatar

They built tunnels on our money

[IsabelBodden-bp]

Al Jazeera will step up they are rich in words I’m sure they have a big heart ♥️

[michaelzx]

Funny how they complained about the "occupiers" and the sponsor countries about funding being cut and having not enough food.But none blames Hamas.Aren't they their government? So what are the responsibilities of Hamas?

[MarxAlex]

The way the secretary General refuses to make a public apology except through a spokesperson while he personally attacked israel previously speaks volumes

[shaeleable]

there needs to be an open independent audit of this organization for the support they give to hamass.

[marcuslawrence]

Funding to UNWRA need to halt or stopped to prevent the misused of humanitarian funds for Hamas terror activities.
As UN should also be held accountable for the misapproriation of funds for other purpose.
Because funds that are allocated out for use can't be simply taken out without the approval and signatory of the highest authority.
Which meant the one who had approved such funds are part of the Hamas senior figure.

[markkahn]

Guterres and UNRWA must be investigated.

[andreandree]

And why it should be western nations (nations) to finance UNRWA? .. can Arab nations like Saudis, Emirates, Qatar, Egypt etc to help their bothers..i am confused here 😮, i note that many of these countries are immensely rich. And Hamas leaders also have huge fortune, they should spare some of it to help their people in building facilities (not tunnels or rockets!)

[julmanuy]

iran qatar jordan lebanon should send relief

[honglu]

UN known exactly what Hamas and UNRWA and UN worried about not getting their cut from the UNRWA fund.

[MinhBui-vroz]

No problem ! South Africans will step up to fund UNRWA . They are willing to help Palestinians .