Several top donors restored crucial funding for the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, but it remains in financial and political danger.
"The agency is at risk of death, it's at risk of dismantlement," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency known as UNRWA, told Swiss French-language broadcaster RTS.
“UNRWA is the only agency that delivers public services to Palestinian refugees. We are a quasi-ministry of education or gealth,” he said. “Who will do the work if it disappears? Certainly not a Palestinian government."
Australia became the latest nation to restore funding by giving US$6 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. It also agreed to provide US$2.6 million to UNICEF and the use of a C-17 Globemaster plane to help airdrop supplies in Gaza.
"In disbursing the $6 million to UNRWA's flash appeal, Australia is finalizing an updated funding agreement that will include stringent conditions such as guarantees of staff neutrality, and confidence in supply chains," Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.
"Australia's decision is in line with steps taken by Canada, Sweden and the E.U. It is expected that more countries that have paused will take a similar approach," she said. "In resuming funding, the government is responding to a humanitarian situation in Gaza which is dire, and only worsening."
Sixteen donor nations, including the United States, had paused or temporarily suspended US$450 million in UNRWA's funding earlier this year after Israeli officials asserted that some of the U.N. workers were members of the Hamas militant group involved in last October’s surprise terror attack on Israel. Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
U.S. President Joe Biden dispatched an Army vessel to Gaza's coastline to build a floating pier for international aid deliveries. U.S. military planes airdropped meals and water bottles into northern Gaza. Dozens of members of U.S. Congress signed a letter calling on the Biden administration to restore U.S. funding for the agency.
Top donors Australia, Sweden, the European Union and Canada said they resumed funding due to Gaza's dire needs and UNRWA's assurances it will allow for an independent audit and impose more internal controls.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is devastating and the needs are acute,” Swedish development minister Johan Forssell said of the US$19.5 million his government disbursed for UNRWA. "We will monitor closely to ensure UNRWA follows through on what it has promised."
Standing by Palestinians
Sweden said it will disburse the other half of the US$39 million it promised for this year "as UNRWA makes progress on the measures to which it has agreed in order to strengthen internal supervision and controls."
Canada also is "resuming its funding to UNRWA so more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians," Canadian development minister Ahmed Hussen said.
But the allegations against UNRWA staff are being taken "extremely seriously," he said, "and we will remain closely engaged with UNRWA and the U.N. to pursue accountability and reforms.”
The European Commission said earlier that it is proceeding with giving UNRWA some 50 million euros (US$55 million), which is a third of what it will provide the agency and other international partners in 2024.
"We stand by the Palestinian people in Gaza and elsewhere in the region," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "Innocent Palestinians should not have to pay the price for the crimes of terrorist group Hamas."
This story has been updated with additional details.
