Inas Hamdan, the Communications Director for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, has stated that the ongoing suspension of U.S. funding is significantly hindering relief operations.
She pointed out that the agency’s financial decisions are now being made on a monthly basis due to the severe funding difficulties.
The Biden administration announced in January that it would halt funding to the agency following accusations by Israel that 12 out of its 13,000 employees in Gaza participated in the October 7th attack orchestrated by Hamas.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) provides essential services, including education, healthcare, and emergency aid, to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Established in 1949, UNRWA supports millions of refugees displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.
Recently, the agency has faced significant funding challenges, particularly following the U.S. suspension of financial support in January 2024.
This decision was prompted by allegations from Israel that some UNRWA employees in Gaza were involved in a Hamas-led attack. The funding cut has severely impacted UNRWA’s ability to deliver critical aid to Gaza.
