UNRWA USA Leads 104 Organizations Urging Trump Administration to Include UNRWA in Gaza’s Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC — UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) led a national coalition of 104 civil society organizations to urge the Trump Administration to include the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in its plans for Gaza’s recovery. 

In a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, refugee, human rights, and humanitarian organizations called on the Trump Administration “to re-open lines of communication with UNRWA and allow the Agency to continue fulfilling its mandate in accordance with international humanitarian principles, until a just and lasting solution to the plight of Palestine refugees is secured.”

UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, with some 12,000 local staff delivering life-saving services every day, including 40 percent of all primary healthcare. Four independent investigations have affirmed the Agency’s neutrality. Despite this, the Administration maintains that UNRWA will have no role in Gaza’s future and continues to block critical humanitarian funding from the US government.

“The message from the American public is unmistakable: the U.S. government must restore support for UNRWA,” said Mara Kronenfeld, Executive Director of UNRWA USA. “UNRWA’s staff have never stopped serving their communities, despite immense loss and displacement. Attempts to sideline the Agency only deepen humanitarian suffering and contribute to wider efforts to delegitimize an institution that has safeguarded the rights of Palestine refugees since 1950.”

UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA), which supports the work of UNRWA through grassroots advocacy, education, and fundraising in the United States, spearheaded the coalition effort alongside partners Refugees International, the Arab American Institute (AAI), Friends Committee on National Legislation, A New Policy, and other partners advocating for the rights of Palestine refugees.

Humanitarian experts stressed that excluding UNRWA would have consequences far beyond Gaza’s immediate relief needs. Natasha Hall, Senior Advocate for the Middle East at Refugees International, emphasized “UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, with unmatched capacity, infrastructure, and community trust. Independent investigations have consistently affirmed its neutrality, and excluding UNRWA would undermine humanitarian effectiveness—and ultimately jeopardize regional stability and the success of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.”

Faith-based and humanitarian leaders emphasized that excluding UNRWA from Gaza’s recovery would undermine any credible reconstruction effort. Christine Mangale, Director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)’s Lutheran Office for World Community, New York, underscored that, “international humanitarian actors like UNRWA play a critical role in serving and protecting the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people affected by crisis.” She added that failing to include UNRWA “leaves out essential experience, knowledge, and capacity that is urgently needed for the success of the comprehensive plan.”

Advocates also warned that political attacks on UNRWA have come at the expense of humanitarian necessity. Maya Berry, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), noted that “as it has always done since its founding—and as UN member states are obligated to do—UNRWA is providing critical assistance and services to Palestinian refugees.” She continued, “Instead of increasing our support to UNRWA as the genocide in Gaza unfolded, the United States allowed it to be targeted by politically motivated attacks and coordinated disinformation campaigns. Those efforts must be rejected, and any credible efforts to aid the Palestinian people or to help rebuild Gaza must include UNRWA as a core humanitarian partner.” 

Policy experts stressed the consequences of continued U.S. disengagement. “UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, reaching people and places no other actor can,” said Hassan El-Tayyab, Friends Committee on National Legislation Legislative Director for Middle East Policy. “At a moment of immense humanitarian need and a stalled peace process, abandoning UNRWA would mean abandoning millions who rely on it for survival and would lead to escalating political instability. The Administration must restore support, and Congress must pass the UNRWA Emergency Funding Restoration Act so UNRWA can continue its indispensable mission to support Palestine refugees.”

UNRWA USA is calling on grassroots advocates nationwide to urge their members of Congress to co-sponsor the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act, restore United States government funding to the UN agency, and continue fighting misinformation by sharing the facts about UNRWA’s irreplaceable humanitarian work.

###

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. 

Media Contact:
For more information, contact Laila Mokhiber, Senior Director of Communications, UNRWA USA, by phone at (202) 223-3767 or via email at laila@unrwausa.org.