According to Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the leader of the United Nations (UN) also had a meeting with the leader of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which is the top investigative entity within the UN, during the regular Noon Briefing on Monday.

Mr. Dujarric stated that the inquiry into accusations of involvement of multiple UNRWA employees in the 7 October attacks in Israel will be conducted promptly and effectively in order to ensure efficiency.

“We are currently undergoing an accountability process. However, in the meantime, it is important for people to be able to sustain themselves. We still require ongoing support for UNRWA and our humanitarian efforts,” he stated.

Urgent necessities must be fulfilled.

Mr. Dujarric noted that the Secretary-General is “personally horrified” by the accusations, but that his message to donors, especially those who have suspended their contributions is to “at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations, as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region.”

“The essential requirements of the vulnerable communities they assist must be fulfilled,” stated Mr. Dujarric.

UNRWA not only offers programs in Gaza, but also provides crucial humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The agency in Gaza is offering crucial assistance to more than two million people, running shelters for over a million and providing essential resources such as food, water, and healthcare.

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NGOs are calling for ongoing support from donors.

On Monday, a coalition of prominent global aid organizations and non-governmental organizations urged countries that have terminated funding for UNRWA due to allegations of staff collaboration to reaffirm their support for the crucial work carried out by the UN agency.

Some organizations on this list are the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children, and the War Child Alliance.

They urged the donor countries that have halted financial aid – such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland, and Japan – to promptly resume their crucial support or else “endanger the basic needs of Palestinians in the area, such as food, water, healthcare, education, and protection.”

Several countries have announced their intention to maintain their financial support, although they have also expressed significant apprehension regarding the accusations. Other donors are said to have chosen to continue providing funding until the investigations are completed.

Source: news.un.org