- Title: GAZA-UNRWA AID/PALESTINIANS Gazans voice concern over UNWRA cash crisis
- Date: 6th August 2015
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (AUGUST 3, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) SCHOOL, ZAITOUN GIRLS SCHOOL SCHOOL SIGN DEPUTY COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA), SANDRA MITCHELL AT PRESS CONFERENCE REPORTERS AT PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW DEPUTY C
- Embargoed: 21st August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7VXAJBGIF2CUXHKCWWUNYH2QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The main U.N. aid agency in the Gaza Strip tasked with feeding destitute Palestinians and educating the next generation, has suspended payments to tens of thousands of residents due to a lack of funding.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has only received 135 million U.S. dollars of the 720 million U.S. dollars pledged by donors to its cash assistance program needed for 96,000 refugee families, whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the 50-day conflict between the Hamas Islamist movement and Israel.
With a population of 1.8 million, the fear is that the funding withdrawal will have a knock on effect on the Gazan economy and the academic future of its refugees, with no money to pay for teachers.
UNRWA, which operates 250 schools in Gaza has been helping Palestinian refugees in Gaza since 1949, a year after Israel's founding. It's estimated that at least 1.2 million people in the enclave are completely dependent on its assistance.
According to the Spokesperson and Director of Advocacy and Strategic Communications at UNRWA, Christopher Gunness, around 500,000 students might not start their academic year on time because of this crisis in not only Gaza, but the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan too.
New Deputy Commissioner-General of UNRWA in the Near East, Sandra Mitchell said that this year it is short of 101 million U.S. dollars of funding that they have previously received from sufficient voluntary contributions.
"Donors are continuing to support 'UNRWA'. Donors have never provided as much funding as they are right now to 'UNRWA'. It is just not keeping up with the needs. The conflict last year in Gaza, the ongoing conflict in Syria, the pressure of the occupation and the blockade adds more and more stress to the refugee populations. The ability of host governments to cope isn't as strong as it could be," Sandra Mitchell said.
"This is the message that we give to the capitals around the world. It is their responsibility to fund this organisation and they will bare the consequences. We must do everything we can to get the schools open and to provide the children of Palestine the hope and the education that they deserve," Mitchell added.
Resident of al-Shate Refugee Camp in Gaza City, Um Khattab Dawla, said that they depend on UNRWA to provide them with food supplies. The family have no other means of support.
"We are living by the help of God and UNRWA provides us (with food). My sons are not employees or workers, (they live) from the food supplies that they get, and I wish it was even enough. They give us sesame oil, flour, sugar, rice, meat cans and milk. This helps a bit, but if this stops what can people do? Kill each other? Beg? Steal? Go crazy? It is just UNRWA that is supporting us but if it doesn't support us anymore, what can we do? Let them take us back to our homeland, it is better for us," Um Khattab Dawla said.
Abu Mohammad Abu Hasira, a refugee from the al-Shate Refugee Camp in Gaza City, said he has pleaded with the UNRWA not to stop its vital work.
"This will be a disaster for people. Who will cover our backs in this disaster? UNRWA is helping us a lot. We thank the agency (UNRWA) and ask them to stop this disaster (from happening). (We ask UNRWA) not to cut the education, the medical support, the cleaning services or anything of that. Because this will affect everybody. If the agency (UNRWA) decreases its services, the whole city would collapse," Abu Mohammad Abu Hasira said.
Gazan teacher, Saeed Miqdad, who is one of thousands of teachers employed by UNRWA schools in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, said that many people might lose their jobs at the schools which would be a disaster for Gazan families.
"If the schools (academic year) gets delayed, first, our students will spend their time in streets, they will become ignorant. Families will come apart because of the break from school that might last until next December or even more. This has dangerous effects on the family and the Palestinian community in Gaza in the first place," Saeed Miqdad said.
During the last war between Israel and Hamas in 2014, more than 12,000 homes were destroyed and 100,000 more were damaged in Gaza during the conflict, none of which have been rebuilt. Tens of thousands of Gazans were left homeless and destitute.
More than 500 children were among the 2,100 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, who were killed. 73 Israelis, almost all soldiers, were also killed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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