"I am here today because UNRWA, the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees, is at a breaking point," Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly in New York.
Israeli authorities have accused some of UNRWA’s employees in Gaza of taking part in the Palestinian group Hamas’s Oct. 7 cross-border attack on Israel. Several countries have suspended funding for the agency, which was established in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The agency said it terminated contracts with the employees following the allegations.
Despite "prompt and decisive" action and the "unsubstantiated nature" of the allegations, 16 countries have paused funding totaling $450 million, Lazzarini said.
"I am deeply grateful to the member states and donors that have maintained or even increased their funding. Thanks to them, the agency, which is the backbone of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, can continue operating and remains a lifeline for Palestine refugees across the region.
"But for how long? It is hard to say. We are functioning hand-to-mouth. Without additional funding, we will be in unchartered territory -- with serious implications for global peace and security," he added.
'Deliberate and concerted campaign' against UNRWA
UNRWA is facing a "deliberate and concerted campaign" to undermine its operations and ultimately end them, Lazzarini said.
"Let me stress what is at stake if no meaningful action is taken to correct the disastrous course we are on. In the short term, the entire humanitarian response in Gaza will crumble," he said.
In Gaza, Lazzarini said UNRWA is "so prominent" that all partners will continue to rely on its seasoned staff.
"Dismantling UNRWA is short-sighted. By doing so, we will sacrifice an entire generation of children, sowing the seeds of hatred, resentment and future conflict," he warned.
He also underlined that "urgent action" is needed to facilitate a political solution that will bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis, and in this context alone, allow the agency to transition.
Separately, at a news conference, Lazzarini said he has not received "any substantiated information or evidence," but because of the "gravity" of the allegations, he took swift action and terminated the contracts of the staff concerned.
Lazzarini said he has no regrets about ending contracts with the staff.
"But clearly, to be honest, I did not expect that within 24 hours...I ended up at the end of the weekend with 16 countries having the decision (to suspend funding) taken...So that was also quite swift, I have to say," he said.
If the Oct. 7 attack had not taken place, people would be talking about the 75th year of UNRWA, Lazzarini told reporters.
Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed 30,534 people and injured 71,920 others with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.