The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday that $267 million in its funding was still suspended over allegations some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attack.
The accusations in January led to many donors freezing some $450 million in funding at a time when Gaza’s 2.3 million people are in dire need of food, water, shelter and medicine.
Many countries have since resumed their donations, while others have not — including the United States, which passed a law blocking funding until at least March 2025.
“It’s money we were aware was committed, but which remains suspended for the agency. The total amount is $267 million. The bulk of it comes from the United States,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference in Geneva.
He said that up to 16 countries had suspended contributions to UNRWA but as of Tuesday, “most of the donor countries have resumed their contribution to the agency.
“We just have a handful of countries that still need to make a decision,” he said, citing Britain and Austria among them.
Lazzarini said countries which had never donated to UNRWA before were now coming forward with contributions, including Algeria.
Over the last six months, more than $115 million had also been raised in private donations, “which is an indication of the extraordinary grassroots solidarity expressed towards Palestinians,” he added.
He said the agency had the money to keep running until the end of June, but noted that during his tenure, the agency had rarely been able to look more than a few months ahead financially.
Rafah ‘anxiety’
Lazzarini said there was deep anxiety in the Gaza Strip over the fear of a ground invasion in the far-southern city of Rafah, which is packed with displaced civilians.
“People have not yet been asked to evacuate from Rafah,” he added. “My colleagues on the ground are also describing a constant state of trauma among the people.”
With AFP
