ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was concerned over a decision by major world donors to suspend funding to the United Nations (UN) Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Monday, saying the continuity of the agency’s operations was vital for the survival of the people of Gaza.

The donors, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Germany, suspended funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after allegations emerged that around 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.

On Friday, the agency, which serves the civic and humanitarian needs of 5.9 million people in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and in vast camps in neighboring Arab countries, it had opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with those people.

A spokesperson for the agency said on Monday that UNRWA would not be able to continue operations in Gaza and across the region beyond the end of February if funding did not resume.

In response to the developments, the Pakistani foreign ministry said it agreed with statements by UN officials that UNRWA’s current funding would not be sufficient to meet requirements to support the Palestinian people over the next month.

“The timing of this suspension is deeply troubling as it takes place amidst the ongoing war, displacement, and suffering of the people of Gaza who depend on critical aid from UNRWA for their daily survival,“

“It is, therefore, imperative to prioritize the continuity of UNRWA’s operations to sustain the survival of the people of Gaza.”

As the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, UNRWA serves as a lifeline for over two million people, providing shelter and delivering vital food and primary health care services, even amidst the most intense hostilities.

The UNRWA has already been under financial strain for years. In January last year, it appealed for $1.6 billion in funding, saying its operations were at risk.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said the decision to suspend its funding in response to allegations against a small group of staff is “unjustifiable.”

“Pakistan urges all countries that have suspended their funding for UNRWA to reconsider their decision in order to avoid suspension of the Agency’s humanitarian work,” it said.

“The lives of the people in Gaza hang in the balance and depend on this crucial support.”