Saudi Arabia Increases UNRWA Funding by IDR 625 Billion for Gaza Strip Aid

UNRWA Shelter in Gaza. (Source: UNRWA)

JAKARTA - The humanitarian agency funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia promised on Wednesday to increase funding for the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) by 40 million US dollars (IDR 625,958,000,000) according to a statement.

The donation from the King Salman Humanitarian Relief and Relief Center (KSrelief), dedicated to the Gaza Strip, comes as UNRWA faces a severe funding crisis after the United States and Britain cut off support, following Israeli accusations that the agency's staff in Gaza took part in Hamas attacks. on October 7 to the southern region of the country.

UNRWA manages refugee camps, providing food and health services to nearly 2 million people in Gaza, according to its website.

A UN-backed report warned on Hari that the northern Gaza region would soon face famine. Global pressure is also mounting on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people.

Canada, Australia, and Sweden have recently resumed funding for UNRWA, while several Gulf states, in addition to Saudi Arabia, have increased funding. However, that may still not be enough.

"The US is our largest donor, so no amount of compensation provided by other donors, even if they are generous, can fill the gap left by the US," said UNRWA spokesperson Tamara al-Rifai, as reported by Reuters, March 21.

Previously, Saudi Arabia announced a contribution of USD 2 million to UNRWA in October, while KSrelief provided USD 15 million to the agency in November.