More than 100 immigrant, refugee, human rights, and humanitarian organizations are urging Congress and President Joe Biden to reinstate funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The agency has provided critical support to nearly 6 million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and neighboring Arab states for over 75 years. In Gaza, the majority of the population relies on UNRWA for basic necessities such as food, water, and hygiene supplies. After Israeli officials accused UNRWA employees of involvement in a Hamas attack, international donors, including the U.S., suspended about $450 million in aid. The backlash against UNRWA has jeopardized the agency’s ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Last week, an independent United Nations report concluded that Israeli forces did not provide evidence to support the accusation against UNRWA employees. Despite this, the suspension of financial support for the relief agency remains in place until at least March 2025. Germany, UNRWA’s second-largest donor, has recently announced that it will resume funding for the aid group. The letter sent to President Biden and congressional leaders emphasizes the importance of UNRWA’s role in responding to one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time, stating that other international NGOs and organizations do not have the capacity to address the needs in Gaza adequately.
The Senate approved a foreign aid package that includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, and humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and the Indo-Pacific region. The decision to prohibit aid for an organization like UNRWA, which could provide life-saving assistance to over 2 million people, is criticized as being rooted in racism and Islamophobia. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini stated that the aid group currently has enough funding to operate until June, but reports of famine and starvation in Gaza are causing concern. There have been reports of starvation-related deaths in Gaza, further highlighting the urgency of reinstating funding for UNRWA.
UNRWA’s services are crucial for addressing both short-term needs and the long-term mental health impact of the ongoing conflict on Palestinians. The continuous traumatic threat faced by the Palestinian population, coupled with the survival skills they must employ to stay alive, will have lasting detrimental effects on their mental and physical well-being. The signatories of the letter, including organizations like the National Immigrant Justice Center, Human Rights Watch, and Palestine Legal, warn of grave consequences if the administration does not reverse its decision to suspend funding for UNRWA. They stress the moral obligation of the U.S. to uphold the human rights of the Palestinian people and resume its support for the relief agency immediately to prevent further suffering and loss of life in Gaza.
