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To: Congress
Reinstate UNRWA funding so they can continue urgent humanitarian aid!
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—including children—are starving right now in Gaza. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is the largest humanitarian operation in Gaza. Sweden and Canada have resumed funding to UNRWA, which provides aid including food, water, and hygiene kits in Gaza, among other much needed aid.
Tell Congress to resume funding to the UNRWA immediately so they can help ease the cruel and brutal starvation and dehydration facing Palestinians!
Why is this important?
The UNRWA is one of the largest U.N programs with over 30,000 staff. The U.S. rashly halted funding in January after Israel officials accused a handful of UNRWA staff members of involvement with Hamas and the attacks on October 7, 2023. Despite the lack of evidence, UNRWA swiftly launched an independent investigation and increased standards for transparency and accountability. Still, dozens of countries followed the U.S. in pausing aid, pushing UNRWA to a breaking point and exacerbating the starvation and dehydration crisis facing innocent civilians.
In March, Sweden and Canada announced they would be resuming funding after reviewing the interim report of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and observing the immediate measures taken by the UNRWA to strengthen transparency and accountability.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Palestinian are on the brink of famine. The U.S. provides more funding to the UNRWA than any other country. Without assistance, the UNRWA may not be able to keep up humanitarian efforts in the region and many more innocent people will die from hunger—disproportionately affecting women and children in Gaza.
Cutting off access to food and water is inhumane and violates international humanitarian law. As we continue to push for a ceasefire, we must make sure that civilians receive aid IMMEDIATELY to stop starvation and dehydration, and that means funding the UNRWA so they can continue to provide necessary services.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Nasser Nasser