Saudi Arabia welcomes the results of an independent committee’s report on the performance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the Saudi ministry of foreign affairs announced, reported Al Arabiya.
The report confirms the agency’s main role in supporting the relief, humanitarian and development efforts to help the Palestinian people.
Saudi Arabia reemphasized that it is important for the donor countries to commit UNRWA to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of all forms of support for Palestinian refugees. This will help alleviate their suffering, especially in light of the Israeli occupation’s continued violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
Earlier this year, UNRWA has come under fire after allegations that 12 of its members were involved in Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7. Following these allegations, major UNRWA donors decided to halt their finding to the agency, while the humanitarian agency terminated the contracts of the 12 accused members.
As a result, funding to UNRWA falls short by about $60 million, threatening the agency’s operation in Gaza.
While countries like United States of America, France and Germany decided to suspended funding to Gaza, KSA, Turkey, Ireland and others decided to continue their funding.
There were loud warnings that defunding the agency will have dire consequences as it is a lifeline to the Palestinian people.
“Defunding UNRWA would be both disproportionate and dangerous. The agency is an irreplaceable provider of lifesaving aid to the Palestinians,” said High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
Borrell, highlighting the desperate need for UNRWA in Gaza, said that the agency distributes food, water and medicine and houses nearly 1.1 million people.
Besides providing water, food, medicine and shelter, the agency is vital for any aid operation in Gaza. No other UN agency can operate in Gaza without the infrastructure and personnel of UNRWA.
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