People check the devastation after Israeli bombardment on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb 4, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

CAIRO/GAZA/BEIRUT - The Arab League secretary-general slammed on Tuesday some countries' suspension of funding to the UN relief agency for Palestinians, calling it "immoral" and dangerous.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit said halting the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) not only seriously impacts the Palestinians but also "endangers the regional security and stability".

On Jan 27, six European countries, including Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the UNRWA after Israel accused several employees of the UN agency of involvement in the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Arab League secretary-general, praised decisions by countries including Spain and Portugal to step up funding and countries that continue to fund the relief agency

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed an independent committee to investigate the issue of UNRWA's neutrality mechanisms and determine whether the UNRWA applies these standards or not.

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Aboul Gheit said these moves would serve what he called Israel's goal to get rid of the UN agency that serves as a key provider of essential services to Gaza-based Palestinian refugees.

He praised decisions by countries including Spain and Portugal to step up funding and countries that continue to fund the relief agency.

Adnan Abu Hasna, the media advisor and spokesperson for the UNRWA, called on countries to reverse their decisions to suspend financial contributions to the agency.

He said in a statement that "the decision of donors to suspend contributions is dangerous, terrifying, and destructive."

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Jan 30, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

"The continued suspension of contributions will have a destructive impact on the agency's operations, whether in its five working areas or on the salaries of employees," Abu Hasna said.

"The UNRWA in Gaza is a lifeline for all Palestinians, not just refugees," he said, adding "stopping its operations, especially in Gaza, means sentencing these residents, who have nothing left but the UNRWA, to death."

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The UNRWA in Gaza is a lifeline for all Palestinians, not just refugees ... stopping its operations, especially in Gaza, means sentencing these residents, who have nothing left but the UNRWA, to death.

Adnan Abu Hasna, the media advisor and spokesperson for the UNRWA

Reconsideration

Also on Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on donor countries to reconsider their decision to stop funding the UNRWA in Lebanon.

"Lebanon is an exceptional case in light of the current economic crisis, which must be taken into account," Mikati said when meeting with Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon Dorothee Klaus.

Lebanon has been in the throes of an unprecedented financial crisis since 2019 and is already hosting the largest number of refugees per capita in the world, with the government's estimation of 1.5 million to over 2 million Syrian refugees.

"Currently, 19 donor agencies have stopped or suspended grants; we can provide services until the end of March, but after this date, we do not know what will happen with our services," said Klaus.

"If this funding is not restored, all Palestinians in Lebanon will be affected, and this includes a large number of children, 2,000 patients in our clinics, and 50,000 patients who need hospital support every year in addition to a large number of patients who depend on medications," she said.

READ MORE: Guterres to meet UNRWA donors to ensure continued relief work

Klaus added that she is aware of the Lebanese government's efforts to host many refugees in Lebanon, noting that her agency will continue to try to persuade donors about the need to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

As of March 2023, the total number of UNRWA-registered Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon was 489,292.