The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a group of aid agencies led by the UN, stated that while there were concerning accusations that 12 UNWRA employees took part in Hamas-led terrorist actions against Israel on October 7, it is important not to hinder the organization’s ability to fulfill its duty of assisting those in dire circumstances.

Regional collapse

The International Panel, led by UN emergency relief leader Martin Griffiths, cautioned that removing funds from UNRWA could lead to the breakdown of the humanitarian system in Gaza. This could have significant consequences on humanitarian aid and human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the surrounding region.

IASC Principals have reported that many individuals have been displaced and are at risk of starvation due to the Israeli airstrikes and ground invasion following an attack by Palestinian militants. This attack resulted in the death of 1,200 people in Israeli communities and the capture of over 250 others.

Historic role

UNRWA – the largest aid agency in Gaza whose key role in education, healthcare and more in the enclave dates back to 1949 – provides a lifeline to more than two million people in the Strip. 

The future of the organization is uncertain as significant donors have suspended funding while investigations are conducted into Israel’s accusations that 12 out of 30,000 employees were involved in the October 7 attacks.

Probe activated

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which is the top investigative agency in the UN, is currently conducting a thorough and pressing investigation. The IASC leaders stated that UNRWA has also declared an independent assessment of its activities.

“The decision of several Member States to temporarily halt funding for UNRWA will have disastrous effects on the population of Gaza,” stated the IASC. “No other organization has the capability to provide the extensive and diverse aid required by the 2.2 million people in Gaza who are in urgent need.”

According to the latest report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of fatalities in Gaza has reached 26,751 due to ongoing intense bombings by Israel. This information was reported by the health authorities in the enclave.

According to OCHA, conflicts in the southern city of Khan Younis remained “extremely fierce” on Tuesday night. There were reports of intense battles near Nasser and Al Amal hospitals, and Palestinians were said to be escaping to the overcrowded town of Rafah, despite the absence of a secure route.

Ground operations and clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups were also reported across much of Gaza, OCHA noted, with new evacuation orders issued to neighbourhoods in western Gaza city on Monday and Tuesday, including Ash Shati Refugee Camp, Rimal Ash Shamali and Al Janubi, Sabra, Ash Sheikh ‘Ajlin, and Tel Al Hawa.

“The recent decree encompassed a region measuring 12.43 square kilometers…Prior to 7 October, this region was inhabited by approximately 300,000 Palestinian individuals. Afterward, there were 59 shelters housing an estimated 88,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) seeking sanctuary in the area,” stated OCHA.

Reducing the area for protection

The Israeli military has issued orders for a massive evacuation starting on December 1st, covering 158 square kilometers, which makes up 41% of the Gaza Strip. According to the UN aid coordination office, this area was previously inhabited by 1.38 million Palestinians and currently houses 161 shelters with approximately 700,750 internally displaced persons since October 7th.

According to the Israeli military, as of January 30th, a total of 218 soldiers have been verified as deceased and 1,283 have been reported as injured.

According to the latest OCHA update, there was a significant number of Palestinian men who were detained by the Israeli military at a checkpoint in Khan Younis last week. Many of these men were stripped down to their underwear, blindfolded, and removed from the area.

According to the UN aid coordination office, there has been a growing trend of denied and restricted access in northern and central Gaza, making vulnerable populations increasingly unreachable. This is due to various factors such as lengthy delays at Israeli checkpoints and increased hostilities in central Gaza. Additionally, the safety of humanitarian personnel and sites is often threatened, hindering the timely delivery of crucial aid and putting those involved in humanitarian efforts at serious risk.

The appeal has been signed by 14 members of the International Association of Schools and Colleges (IASC).

• Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• Jane Backhurst, Chair, ICVA (Christian Aid) 

• Jamie Munn is the Executive Director of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).

• Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
• Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 
• Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs) 

• Achim Steiner is the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• Natalia Kanem is the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

• Reworded: Filippo Grandi is the current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

• Michal Mlynár is currently serving as the Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat).

• Catherine Russell is the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

• Sima Bahous serves as the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director for UN Women.

• Cindy McCain serves as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

• The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Source: news.un.org