UNRWA forced to suspend critical assistance program in Gaza

UNRWA forced to suspend critical assistance program in Gaza

Due to a severe lack of funding, UNRWA has been forced to suspend its cash assistance program to tens of thousands of people for repairs to damaged and destroyed homes and for rental subsidies to the homeless.

As you know, over 96,000 Palestine refugee family homes were damaged or destroyed during last summer’s assault. But to date, UNRWA has received shockingly less than 20% of funds needed to help these vulnerable families.

While some funds remain available to begin the reconstruction of totally destroyed homes, UNRWA has exhausted all funding to support repairs and rental subsidies. This could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.

Already, the incredibly harsh winter in Gaza has claimed the lives of five babies. Without immediate support, homeless refugees run the very real risk of freezing to death this winter. You can read more about the current situation here.

UNRWA’s Gaza Director, Robert Turner, stated “UNRWA has been a stabilizing factor in a very challenging political and security context and if we cannot continue the program, it will have grave consequences for affected communities in Gaza. People are desperate and the international community cannot even provide the bare minimum – for example a repaired home in winter – let alone a lifting of the blockade, access to markets or freedom of movement. We’ve said before that quiet will not last, and now the quiet is at risk.”

UNRWA urgently needs help to ensure that families in Gaza are safe and secure this winter and beyond.

ENDS

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