{"id":294018,"date":"2024-03-04T16:44:18","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T21:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=294018"},"modified":"2024-03-04T16:44:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T21:44:18","slug":"joint-ngo-statement-4mar24","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/joint-ngo-statement-4mar24\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint NGO Statement: as ±¬ÁÏÍø General Assembly meets to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, Member States must restore funding to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA – Press Release (Non-±¬ÁÏÍø Document)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is a non-United Nations document. ±¬ÁÏÍø provides these documents only as a convenience for reference purposes, and the inclusion of a document does not imply the endorsement of its content by the United Nations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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04 March 2024<\/p>\n

In light of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the Israeli advance on Rafah, the last refuge for more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians, the undersigned aid organisations are deeply concerned about the current and potential future suspension of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (±¬ÁÏÍøRWA). The suspension of funding by donor states to the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region, at a time where famine is looming and disease outbreaks are worsening, will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, half of whom are children, who rely on ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA aid in Gaza.<\/p>\n

When the General Assembly convenes on Monday to discuss the situation in the oPt,\u00a0we urge Member States to take note that other aid agencies cannot replicate ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s central role in the humanitarian response in Gaza, and amidst the current crisis many will struggle to even maintain their current operations without ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s partnership and support. Considering the urgency of the situation, if the funding suspensions are not reversed, the risk of a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response resulting in preventable loss of lives in Gaza becomes even more likely.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is important to ensure a thorough investigation into the\u00a0grave allegations\u00a0<\/strong>by the Israeli authorities that 12 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA employees directly participated in the attacks on October 7, and to ensure full transparency and accountability going forward. But the investigation and any subsequent accountability measures must not derail the critical, life-saving work of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA in Gaza and throughout the region.<\/p>\n

±¬ÁÏÍøRWA is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The plain reality is that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s humanitarian role in this crisis is indispensable \u2013 including, but not limited to provision of health and education services, food and water provision, psychosocial support,\u00a0and solid waste management – and cannot remotely be replaced by any other aid organization. NGOs have made it clear that they are unable to substitute for or absorb the role of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA, especially in the context of the current crisis.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the continuing operation of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA is essential to their own life-saving work. As\u00a0underlined<\/a>\u00a0by the ±¬ÁÏÍø Emergency Relief Coordinator, the humanitarian response for the occupied Palestinian territory is dependent on ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA being adequately funded and operational and we echo his calls for decisions to withhold funds from ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA to be revoked. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA employs more than 13,000 staff in Gaza, of whom 158 have been killed since the fighting began. Any pause or suspension of funding also poses major problems for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s mission and its more than 30,000 staff throughout the wider region, with the agency serving nearly six million Palestinian refugees who live within the occupied Palestinian territory and across the region. We welcome the ongoing commitments by Member States who have continued their contributions to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA and those that have made new pledges at this critical time. It is imperative that all donors resume support to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA as quickly as possible to avoid damaging consequences for the Gaza aid operation at a critical time.<\/p>\n

Over 1 million displaced Palestinians are\u00a0sheltering\u00a0<\/strong>in ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA facilities across Gaza. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s 13,000 staff in Gaza far outstrip the collective capacity of the rest of the humanitarian sector in the territory. Their role in the facilitation and delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid at scale in this crisis has been heroic. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA\u2019s supply of vital shelter, food, and basic services like sanitation, as well as the use of infrastructure by other aid organizations, is irreplaceable. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA staff have faced near impossible conditions for months: in addition to the 158 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA staff killed during the ongoing hostilities, at least 404 people in ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA shelters have been killed during the hostilities; almost 1,400 have been injured; and 155 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA installations have been damaged. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA workers continue to serve their community amid this unprecedented violence. The funding suspension will have wider regional implications that need to be carefully considered. In addition to Gaza, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA operates in 4 other locations (West Bank- including East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan) where it delivers critical services such as education and healthcare.<\/p>\n

When the General Assembly meets today, the undersigned NGOs urge Member States\u00a0to reaffirm their support for the vital work that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. While accountability is crucial and a rigorous and credible investigation of the allegations should be supported, this can and must be achieved without further devastating Gaza\u2019s civilian population.<\/p>\n