Gaza aid situation "desperate", says UN as more countries suspend funding

The largest UN organisation operating in Gaza, UNRWA, have described the situation as "extremely desperate" as Japan and Austria join other countries in suspending funding amid allegation some UN staff were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October.

The UK, the US, and Germany have all temporarily suspended funding to the UNRWA after the allegations, and the situation has been described as worsening "by the hour".

The agency has sacked several staff members following an investigation into the October 7 attack on Israel when Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,300 people, mainly civilians, and taking 250 others as hostages.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 26,000 people have been killed, with a majority being civilians. 1,7 million people have fled their homes, with many sheltering in UNRWA facilities.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he is "horrified" by the accusations, but has appealed to donor countries to "guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations".

In a statement on Sunday, he said: "Of the 12 people implicated, nine were immediately identified and terminated by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; one is confirmed dead and the identity of the two others is being clarified."

An UNRWA spokesperson said that if funding was not resumed, the agency would not be able to continue its operations beyond the end of February.