UN Palestinian refugee agency at 'risk of death', Unrwa chief says

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency is at "risk of death" after a string of donors suspended their funding, Unrwa chief Philippe Lazzarini said.

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, paused their funding to Unrwa after accusations by Israel that a dozen of the agency's 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Hamas attack on southern Israeli towns on 7 October.

"The agency is at risk of death, it is risking dismantlement," Lazzarini told Swiss broadcaster RTS in an interview aired on Saturday.

"What is at stake is the fate of the Palestinians today in Gaza in the short term who are going through an absolutely unprecedented humanitarian crisis."

Earlier on Saturday, Sweden said that it will be resuming aid to Unrwa with an initial sum of $20m after receiving assurances of extra checks on its spending and personnel.

Middle East Eye on Friday learned that the British government has a plan in place to resume funding to Unrwa.