New Delhi: The UN agency serving Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has reached a breaking point as more than 150 UNRWA premises have been hit by bombardment, killing over 390 and injuring 1,300 in just over four months in Gaza, as per UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini. Further, the Israeli calls for its abolition and the associated funding freeze has added to the problems of the agency.“In just over four months in Gaza there have been more children, more journalists more medical personnel and more UN staff killed than anywhere in the world during a conflict,” Lazzarini said in a letter addressed to the president of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis.Lazzarini shared the full text of his letter in X (formerly called Twitter).In just over four months in #Gaza, there have been more #children, more journalists, more medical personnel, and more @UN staff killed than anywhere in the world during a conflict.It is with profound regret that I must now inform you that @UNRWA has reached a breaking point,… pic.twitter.com/JbQVk72avu— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) February 22, 2024Dismissing the allegations labelled by Israel in January against 12 UNRWA staffers accusing them of involvement in the horrific October 7 terror attack, the UNRWA chief said “to date, no evidence has been shared by Israel with UNRWA.”As per the letter, the resulting suspension of aid by 16 donor countries totalling $450 million implies that without new funding the UNRWA operations across the Middle East will be severely compromised from March.Also read: Netanyahu Presents Proposal for Post-War GazaDisrupt UNRWA’s operationsLazzarini underlined that there has been “a concerted effort by some Israeli officials to deceptively conflate UNRWA with Hamas, to disrupt UNRWA’s operations and to call for the dismantling of the agency” in recent weeks.“I fear we are on the edge of a monumental disaster with grave implications for regional peace, security and human rights,” he added.Lazzarini pointed out that it was widely acknowledged that UNRWA is vital to the rights and security of both Palestinians and Israelis as it provides a “stabilising role” as well as lifesaving humanitarian services.Independent review group The UN Secretary General appointed an independent review group in early February following Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel in October.The group led by former French minister Catherine Colonna aims to meet Palestinian officials and may request a visit to Gaza.“My goal is to deliver a report that is rigorous and evidence based…and to do our best so we can help UNRWA deliver under the mandate given [to it] by the General Assembly,” Colonna was quoted by UN News. The group began its work on February 13 and expects to have an interim report by late March. Further, Colonna said the group intends to issue recommendations in its final report, which is expected on April 20, according to UN News. Demand for change in UNRWA’s funding structure Lazzarini suggested that UN General Assembly “now faces a fundamental decision” – either allow UNRWA to be swept aside without political consultation and agreement on the part of Palestinians, or chose to make a moment of crisis a “catalyst for peace” – in which case he urged the General Assembly to provide the political support necessary to sustain UNRWA or to create a path for UNRWA to “transition immediately into a long-overdue political solution that can bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis.”Lazzarini called for a change in the funding structure which would end the reliance on voluntary contributions “that make it vulnerable to wider political considerations” if the General Assembly chose to sustain the agency, as per the letter.As per UN News, the UNRWA which is operating since 1949 serves almost six million Palestine refugees in the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and in besieged Gaza. More than 29,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed by the Israeli army since the start of the war on October 7, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.