Despite facing numerous obstacles, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) persists in their efforts to provide life-saving assistance in Gaza.
Employees and volunteers at the Deir Al-Balah Preparatory School in central Gaza, which is affiliated with UNRWA, informed UN News that despite challenging circumstances that limit the mobility of staff at various international aid organizations, they persist in preparing and distributing food supplies.
UNRWA’s Yousuf Sagr
Youssef Saqr, a support counselor at the school, stated that due to their scarcity, people are unable to purchase necessary supplies and even when they are obtainable, they come at a high cost. Saqr also expressed gratitude towards UNRWA for their assistance and urged everyone to increase their efforts in ensuring aid reaches all those in need.
The school was transformed into a shelter for those who were displaced after Israel launched strikes and bombardment in response to Hamas’s unexpected attack on October 7th. The attack resulted in 1,200 deaths and 240 people being held hostage.
Following this, the school that has been converted into a shelter has provided refuge for numerous Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing conflict.
Urgent need for relief services.
UNRWA provides diverse and integrated services to the displaced in the shelter centre, Mr. Saqr said, the most important of which are relief aid in addition to health, social and psychological services.
He described his role as centered on the mental aspect, and mentioned that he strives to educate families while also conducting daily sessions specifically for children.
Mr. Saqr emphasized the critical necessity of relief services, emphasizing that the withholding of aid results in unbearable hardships in shelters as individuals rely solely on the assistance provided by UNRWA.
I am Anaam Rabeh, an employee at UNRWA.
Transmission of illnesses among young individuals
Inaam Rabeh, the supervisor, concurred and stressed that the aid being received at the school is inadequate.
She is focused on delivering health and social services at the Deir Al-Balah center to individuals with disabilities and older adults. She cautioned that risks were increasing.
According to her, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of Hepatitis and other illnesses among children in the last 14 days. This can be attributed to the shortage of hygiene products, medicines, clothing, and blankets, which has exacerbated the hardship faced by those living in the center.
UNRWA, the biggest humanitarian group in Gaza, is still offering assistance to those who have been forced to leave their homes.
Providing assistance amidst numerous dangers
Despite ongoing bombings and displacement, which have also impacted UNRWA staff, the organization’s teams remain dedicated to delivering aid in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip has suffered numerous losses since the start of the war, including the deaths of over 150 UNRWA workers and the destruction of multiple agency buildings and storage facilities.
The primary humanitarian organization in Gaza provides shelter for over one million individuals and offers essential relief and basic medical care.
According to UNRWA, no other organization has the ability to offer sufficient aid to meet the needs of 2.2 million individuals in the Strip.
Possible rewording: Services face potential budget cuts that could impact their operations.
Several individuals who provide financial support to UNRWA decided to stop their contributions last month after Israel accused 12 agency staff members of being involved in the October 7 attacks against Israel.
Due to the seriousness of the accusations, UNRWA promptly terminated nine staff members and is currently conducting an investigation. The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, the top investigative authority within the organization, is also looking into the allegations.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is urging governments to reconsider their decision to suspend funding for UNRWA and to ensure that the agency’s crucial operations can continue.
If UNRWA does not receive funding again, it has announced that it will have to stop its activities in the region, including Gaza, by the end of February. UNRWA provides services to 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Discover more about the efforts of UNRWA on their website.
The origin of this information is the United Nations website.
