Israel & Palestine

Aid to Gaza and beyond at risk of collapse due to funding cuts, says UNRWA

Author: Editors Desk Source: The Guardian

February 2, 2024 at 13:37

A Palestinian boy is given a bag of flour distributed by UNRWA in Rafah, southern Gaza. Many countries have paused funding after Israel’s allegations about UN staff. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

UN body warns it could be forced to shut by end of month unless US, UK and others restore suspended aid money Middle East crisis

Vital supplies of fuel and bread flour for Gaza risk running out, while schools, clinics and even rubbish collections in the West Bank and three countries across the Middle East could cease operating by the end of the month if funding cuts for UNRWA are not restored, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees has warned.

Multiple countries, including the US and the UK, have paused funding for the agency in recent days after accusations that 12 of its staff took part in the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel. On Thursday the agency warned that its entire operations in the Middle East, not only in Gaza, would most likely be forced to shut down by the end of February if funding remained suspended.

In Gaza, where the UN has warned of an imminent famine affecting 2 million people, UNRWA delivers flour to make bread, and fuel for desalination plants, and runs networks of warehouses and lorries for aid. UNWRA-run schools have transformed into shelters housing tens of thousands of people.

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