International Humanitarian Organizations: Western countries’ Suspension of funding for UNRWA threatens the lives of Palestinians

London- (ST)  –  Twenty humanitarian organizations called on Western countries that have suspended their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East, “UNRWA,” to retract this measure, which threatens the lives of Palestinians.

The organizations said in a statement published on the Oxfam website: They are “deeply concerned and angry about the suspension of funding to UNRWA from some major donors amid the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” and they added: “We call on donor countries to reaffirm their support for the work.” “The vital work that UNRWA and its partners are doing to help Palestinians survive in order to avoid  one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the current time.”

The statement added: Countries must reverse the freeze on funding, fulfill their responsibilities towards the Palestinian people, and increase funding and humanitarian aid to civilians who desperately need it in Gaza and the region.

Several Western countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Britain and Finland, announced the suspension of their funding for UNRWA based on inflammatory Israeli accusations and allegations to distort the role of UNRWA.

Hanan Shamout