The suspension of funding by donor countries will have an incidence on the vital aid provided to over two million civilians, more than half of whom are children, all of whom depend on UNRWA’s assistance in Gaza. Faced with Israel’s relentless and indiscriminate bombings and the deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza, the population is confronted with imminent famine and epidemics.
We commend the swift investigation conducted by UNRWA into the alleged involvement of a few UN staff members in the October 7 attacks. We are shocked by this irresponsible decision to cut off supplies to an entire population, made by countries that themselves called for the strengthening of aid to Gaza and the protection of humanitarian workers in the course of their work. This decision comes even as the International Court of Justice has just ordered the implementation of immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
152 UNRWA employees have already been killed and 141 UNRWA facilities have been damaged by bombings. UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza, and other agencies present on the ground cannot replace the humanitarian aid that UNRWA provides. If funding suspensions are maintained, we risk witnessing the total collapse of the already very limited humanitarian response in Gaza.
With approximately one million displaced Palestinians having taken refuge near or in 154 UNRWA shelters, the agency and humanitarian organizations have continued their work under nearly impossible conditions to provide food, drinking water, and vaccines. By suspending their funding, countries risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of food, water, aid, medical supplies, education, and protection.
We urgently call on donor countries to reaffirm their support for the essential work carried out by UNRWA and its partners to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time. Countries must reverse the suspension of their funding, uphold their obligations toward the Palestinian population, and strengthen humanitarian aid that civilians in Gaza and the region desperately need.
Signatories:
ActionAid
American Friends Service Committee
The Association of International Development Agencies – Aida
Caritas Internationalis
CCFD-Terre Solidaire
DanChurchAid
Danish Refugee Council
Diakonia
Humanity & Inclusion/ Handicap International (HI)
International Council for Voluntary Agencies
INTERSOS
Johanniter International Assistance
Médecins du Monde France, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Germany Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian People’s Aid
Norwegian Refugee Council
Oxfam
Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
Première Urgence Internationale
Save the Children
War Child Alliance