RAMALLAH, Thursday, January 2, 2024 (WAFA) – A statement issued by around 28 organizations expressed deep concern and outrage that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stressed a joint statement published by UNRWA.
“As aid organizations, we are deeply concerned and outraged. The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel’s continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza.”
We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job. This decision comes as the International Court of Justice ordered immediate and effective action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, according to the joint statement.
The statement added that 152 UNRWA staff have already been killed and 145 UNRWA facilities damaged by Israeli bombardment. “UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza. If the funding suspensions are not reversed, we may see a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response in Gaza,” warned the NGOs.
The countries suspending funds risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection, stressed the joint statement.
“We urge donor states to reaffirm support for the vital work that UNRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. Countries must reverse these funding suspensions, uphold their duties towards the Palestinian people and scale up humanitarian assistance for civilians in dire need in Gaza and the region,” said the NGOs.
