In Gaza, famine will be ‘inevitable’ due to UNRWA funding cuts
The besieged Gaza Strip is to face “inevitable famine” due to a Western pause in funding the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, says an agency official.
“Famine was imminent,” and now “inevitable,” said Michael Fakhri, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, on Sunday.
“This collectively punishes over 2.2 million Palestinians.”
Several Western countries, not least the United States and Britain, have suspended funding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) following unproven allegations by the Israeli regime that some of the agency’s staff were involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Storm of October 7, 2023.
The day after @ICJ concluded that Israel is plausibly committing Genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UNRWA for the alleged actions of a small number of employees. This collectively punishes +2.2 million Palestinians. Famine was imminent. Famine is now inevitable. https://t.co/cCLRW9M0je
— Michael Fakhri (@MichaelFakhri) January 28, 2024
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has denounced the countries that have paused the funding. She says the decision defies the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza.
The official also said the governments cutting funds to UNRWA are most likely violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention.
Albanese highlighted the timing of the defunding, which came a day after the ICJ’s conclusion that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza.
Britain’s former Ambassador to Uzbekistan Graig Murray told Press TV on Monday that the defunding is a reaction to the ICJ’s ruling against Israel.
A spokesperson for UNRWA has said, “If the funding is not resumed, UNRWA will not be able to continue its services and operations across the region, including in Gaza, beyond the end of February.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appealing to the governments that suspended the funding to “guarantee the continuity of operations.”
.@antonioguterres strongly appeals to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of @UNRWA operations. Two million civilians in #Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA. pic.twitter.com/VKqnlP4a2Y
— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) January 29, 2024
Israel keeps attacking Gaza. The genocidal campaign has left over 26,600 people dead since early October. Tens of thousands have also been injured.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor says more than 25,000 kids have lost one or both parents in Gaza ever since.
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