UNRWA warns of deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as donor support wanes

Jerusalem (Quds News Network) — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) has warned about the escalating humanitarian needs of over 2 million people in Gaza amid the decision of 16 donor countries to cease financial support to the agency.

Tens of thousands of individuals have been compelled to flee southwards due to ongoing bombardments and fighting in Khan Yunis over the past week. This situation compounds the challenges faced by more than 1.4 million people already crowded in the southern governorate of Rafah, as emphasized by UNRWA in a recent statement.

Many of the displaced are living in makeshift structures, tents, or exposed to the elements, now facing the additional concern that they might no longer receive essential food and humanitarian assistance from UNRWA.

Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza and UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, described Rafah as “a sea of people fleeing bombardments.”

According to White: “UNRWA received reports that people in the area are grinding bird feed to make flour. We continue to coordinate with the Israeli Army to be able to go to the north, but this has been largely denied,” he said. “When our convoys are finally permitted to go to the area, people rush to the trucks to get food and often eat it on the spot,” he added.

UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza. Of its 13,000 staff, more than 3,000 continue working. “They are the backbone of the humanitarian aid operations,” the agency said.

“It’s difficult to imagine that Gazans will survive this crisis without UNRWA,” White said.

As the aggression in Gaza is being pursued unabated, and at the time the International Court of Justice calls for more humanitarian assistance, it is time to reinforce and not weaken UNRWA, stressed the statement.

“The Agency remains the largest aid organization in one of the most severe and complex humanitarian crises in the world,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. “I echo the call of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resume funding to UNRWA. If the funding remains suspended, we will most likely be forced to shut down our operations by the end of February not only in Gaza but also across the region, he added.

UNRWA provides assistance to Palestine Refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.