Congress is considering permanently suspending vital funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which, according to several international aid organizations, is “the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region.” It is imperative that we urge our elected representatives to prioritize continued support for UNRWA and ensure that it receives the necessary resources to sustain its operations in Gaza.

UNRWA plays a vital role in providing essential services not only in humanitarian aid, but also by providing access to education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees in the region. These services are indispensable for ensuring the well-being and dignity of Palestinians living not only abroad, but in Gaza and the West Bank.

However, UNRWA's ability to continue its critical work is under threat.

We urge you to contact your elected officials to advocate for continued funding for UNRWA, as Congress suspended aid due to allegations against UNRWA employees, which the US national intelligence council's assessment deemed to have "low confidence" in and have yet to substantiate. Cutting support for this vital agency will endanger millions of Palestinians and countless lives.

At the height of one of the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime, we must ensure that Congress does the right thing and preserves UNRWA aid to millions of Palestinians.

 

In solidarity,

Iman Awad, Emgage Action Policy Director