The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the main aid agency in Gaza, is set to lose $65 million by the end of February as donors’ funding cuts begin to kick in, according to internal accounting documents reviewed by The New York Times.
At least 18 states or institutions, including many of the agency’s biggest funders, announced they were suspending their donations to the agency, known as UNRWA, after accusations emerged last month that several employees participated in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
I understand not wanting to fund terrorists. Whether the number of terrorists in UNRWA justifies cutting off support or not is moot. We've done it.
But desperate people with no hope are easy recruits for terrorist organizations. If you don't trust UNRWA, you can't just cut off aid to the region and wipe the dust from your hands like you fixed something. It much be replaced with something.
Caring for the people in need in Gaza is not charity. It's self defense. It is an investment in peace. Every nickel we saved in UNRWA funding is 10 dollars in war and rebuilding we have to spend later.