Palestinian men and children gather for a demonstration in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Jan. 30, 2024, calling for continued international support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Credit: AFP)
NEW YORK — UNICEF chief Catherine Russel on Friday urged "the world" on Friday, in a message published on X, not to "abandon" the children of Gaza, while sharing a UN organizations statement from Tuesday appealing to reconsider the decision from some countries to stop funding UNRWA.
The suspension of funding by 13 donor countries came as employees of UNRWA have been accused of being involved in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.
"The situation for children in Gaza grows bleaker every day. The world cannot abandon them," Russel said on X on Friday.
Several UN organizations on Tuesday appealed for a reconsideration of some countries – including the United States, Germany, and Japan – to suspend its funding of UNRWA.
UNRWA has fired several employees since Israel's accusations and promised a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that the row over funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees was distracting from the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.