UNRWA has reached a “breaking point”, warns its head

Philippe Lazzarini calls in a letter for “political support” from the UN General Assembly to enable the survival of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

“It is with deep regret that I must inform you today that the Agency has reached a breaking point,” wrote the head of UNRWA in a letter to the president of the UN General Assembly. In the text published on X Thursday February 22, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Frenchman Philippe Lazzarini, deplores “Israel’s repeated calls for its dismantling and freezing of donor funding in the face of unprecedented humanitarian needs in Gaza.”

Twelve members of the UN agency are accused by Israel of being involved in the October 7 attack carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to a count of the AFP.

But even if “Until now, no evidence has been shared by Israel with UNRWA”16 countries have suspended their funding, for a total of $450 million, said Philippe Lazzarini, warning that the agency’s operations across the region “will be seriously compromised from March onwards.” And this while top UN officials maintain that UNRWA is the backbone of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Regain the trust of donors

Philippe Lazzarini thus demands the “political support” of the UN General Assembly to enable the survival of UNRWA, as well as a reform of its financing method, based mainly on voluntary contributions.

An internal investigation has been launched, while Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has entrusted an independent panel chaired by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna with a mission to assess UNRWA and its “neutrality”. The objective of this mission, “delicate”, is to allow donors to “regain confidence”declared Thursday at a press conference Catherine Colonna.

“My goal is to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based report that will help UNRWA fulfill its mandate.”she insisted, specifying that she planned to “make recommendations” in the final report, expected by April 20.