Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), confirmed on Tuesday that the total aid currently frozen for the UN agency stands at $267 million. This freeze initially encompassed a total of $450 million.
With some donors resuming their funding, contributions from new countries, and fundraising from the private sector, Lazzarini stated that they are now in a better financial position compared to three months ago.
Israel has accused UNRWA of employing individuals who have participated in attacks against it in the Gaza Strip. These allegations are vigorously denied by the agency, which is the primary provider of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population.
As a result of these accusations, several donor countries, including the United States, halted their funding to UNRWA, endangering its ability to provide assistance in the besieged Gaza Strip. The United Nations warned of an impending famine.
However, since then, some of these donor entities have resumed funding for UNRWA, Lazzarini informed journalists in Geneva.
He clarified that the total frozen funds amount to $267 million, with the majority coming from US aid.
Lazzarini mentioned that the United States has indicated it will maintain the freeze until March 2025 due to congressional restrictions.
Meanwhile, decisions on resuming funding from the United Kingdom and Austria are pending, with an imminent decision expected from the Swiss government.
New countries, including Algeria and Iraq, have expressed their intention to assist UNRWA, which has managed to raise over $115 million in six months thanks to two private donors. Lazarini believes the agency will be financially sustainable until the end of June.
Responding to questions from journalists, he expressed uncertainty beyond July, citing the unpredictable nature of funding over the past four years.
On April 26, the United Nations announced that the Office of Internal Oversight Services had interviewed 19 UNRWA staff, including 12 initially accused by Israel in January, whose contracts were terminated, along with seven others reported later.
Lazzarini explained that among the nineteen individuals, one person has been acquitted and reinstated, while investigations are currently suspended for four others due to lack of information.
Last week, an independent committee overseen by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna highlighted some neutrality-related issues within the agency.
However, it clarified that Israel has yet to provide evidence supporting its accusations that UNRWA employees belong to terrorist organizations.
