UNRWA USA Joins 102 Refugee and Human Rights Organizations in Urging the U.S. Government to Restore Funding to UNRWA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 1, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laila Mokhiber
Director of Communications
laila@unrwausa.org
(202) 223-3767
WASHINGTON DC - On April 29, a national coalition of 103 refugee and human rights organizations sent a letter to President Biden, House Speaker Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer urging the U.S. government to restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) joined the coalition, led by partners at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP).
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic, with the entire population facing food insecurity and over 500,000 facing famine-level starvation. UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip and is a lifeline for more than five million Palestine refugees across the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. While many countries like the EU, Canada, Japan, and Germany have resumed funding to the Agency after a temporary pause, the United States has not. Instead, President Biden signed into law a one-year ban on US funding to UNRWA until March 2025.
The coalition urges that “cutting off funding to UNRWA completely erodes the international community’s ability to respond to one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. International NGOs and other UN organizations have repeatedly stated that they do not have the personnel, resources, or infrastructure to respond to the humanitarian needs in Gaza appropriately. Continuing UNRWA operations is imperative to address and alleviate the ongoing crisis. There is no debate that UNRWA’s ability to provide services, including food, water, medical assistance, and protection, is irreplaceable and essential to the survival of Palestinians in Gaza, especially now as famine is imminent.”
UNRWA USA reiterates that we will continue our tireless efforts to help Palestine refugees in desperate need in Gaza. The need for international aid is more urgent than ever, and UNRWA has a critical role to play in providing it. Rather than pulling back on aid to UNRWA, redoubling aid efforts, to ensure UNRWA can continue and increase its vital humanitarian support in Gaza, is more urgent than ever.
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UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) is an independent nonprofit organization that provides support for the humanitarian work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life. US taxpayers are eligible for tax deductions for donations made through UNRWA USA.