UNRWA Asks For US$481 Million In Funds For Gaza And The West Bank

Sambuh WHO via news.un.org/Kamp pengungan di selatan Gaza

JAKARTA - The United Nations Agency for Assistance and Work (UNRWA) has requested a larger fund with Flash Appeal (A quick Request) of US$481 million (equivalent to Rp7.6 trillion) to meet humanitarian needs is important for people affected by Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"One month in tight siege and brutal war, humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip are enormous. They increase every hour. Last week in Gaza, children asked me if it had a piece of bread or water, it was the saddest moment," said UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini., Friday, November 10.

Lazzarini said this at the Paris Humanitarian Conference on Thursday, where he repeated his insistence on a humanitarian ceasefire and increased the flow of humanitarian aid.

"Our ability has reached the limit, as our own staff were forced to flee, suffer heavy losses and cry for the 99 colleagues who died," he added, calling UNRWA staff killed by Israeli bombings in Gaza in the past month.

As a result of the relentless bombing by Israeli forces, nearly half of the houses in the Gaza region have reportedly been destroyed or damaged. "The entire population is serving collective penalties," UNRWA said.

Even with the increasing number of aid trucks in recent days, only a small amount of food, water, and basic survival items have been allowed to enter.

As many as 70 percent of the population were forced to flee their homes, including more than 720,000 took refuge in 150 UNRWA shelters throughout the Gaza Strip.

Conditions in shelters are in dire condition; hundreds of people share one toilet and bathroom. No fuel - which is important for UNRWA operations, medical facilities, bakeries, and water stations - can be obtained in Gaza since October 7.