US & 6 others suspend funding to UN agency that aids Palestine
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Reuters photo.
The US has stopped its funding to a United Nations agency, which has been aiding Palestine people for generations after Israel's accusation that some employees of the agency, of Palestine origin, were involved in the October 7 assault of Hamas in Israel.
The countries that joined the US and announced a stoppage of funding to the agency- United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA)- include Germany, Australia, Finland, Canada, Netherlands and Switzerland.
However, the UN stated that these countries cutting their relief funding
would impact the agency's aid work in the Gaza Strip, The New York Times reported. UNWRA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the countries' decision to cut off funds over allegations on a few employees was shocking.
According to NYT, Israel has issued accusations against 12 employees of being involved in the Hamas assault.
The countries' decision will lead to reduction of funds worth millions of dollars and this comes when Palestine people are in a dire situation. They are in a continuously worsening catastrophe, fearing death and battling hunger and diseases while Israel continues pounding the region.
UNWRA has 13,000 workers in Gaza, and most are Palestinians. The agency is one of the largest employers in Gaza.
The UNWRA is one of the oldest agencies of the UN and was founded in 1949. The agency cared for the Palestinian Arabs who fled or were forced to leave their homes while wars were around, which later led to the creation of Israel in the late 1940s. Though the UN started a separate agency for conflicts in other parts of the world, UNWRA stood independent, NYT reports.