Gaza _ Palestine News Network
159 Scientists, lecturers, workers, physicians and representatives of important and prestigious medical organizations and institutions from all over the year announced their solidarity with the agency "UNRWA " in the crisis they face, in a message published by the global medical magazine "Lancet ".
The official UNRWA spokesperson Sami Mashashan said that the medical magazine "Lancet ", which was published in the year, 1823 is considered one of the most important and the most prestigious magazines dealing with medical issues and manifestations of society and humanity Worldwide, a magazine that highly appreciates UNRWA medical services and publishes and periodically covers the achievements And challenges of UNRWA medical services.
He added: The prestigious magazine recently received a letter of support for UNRWA signed by 159 scientists, lecturers, workers, physicians and representatives of important and prestigious medical organizations and institutions from all over the year. The letter has strongly supported UNRWA in light of the US decision to stop its aid and warned of the repercussions of such a resolution on the Palestinian refugees. The message published by INSTAT magazine titled "Supporting the Survival of UNRWA " is installed below:
"The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian assistance to a total of 4.5 million Palestine refugees who are now entering the eighth decade from the State of their absence and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognized camps. UNRWA manages and operated 702 schools along with 144 health centres, some of whom were affected by ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and in the Gaza Strip. The agency has worked to significantly reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality and illiteracy rates. Its social services include rebuilding the infrastructure and homes destroyed by the conflict and providing cash aid and small funding loans to Palestinians whose rights have been reduced and who are denied the right to return to their homeland.
However, UNRWA was struggling to survive. On the 31st of August 2018, the Trump administration confirmed that the United States, formerly the largest donor to UNRWA, would no longer provide any funding for UNRWA. Funding crises are not new to UNRWA; however, this crisis is unprecedented.
The sudden interruption of UNRWA services would create a humanitarian emergency that would overburden the already overburdened host countries. It will exacerbate existing conflicts, disrupt fragile peace, create new displacements and generate dissatisfaction and anger.
Unless action is taken, governments will have received the green light of a multifaceted and severe emergency, a situation that the region simply cannot afford. We, the undersigned, scientists and researchers, urge our governments to support UNRWA now and the sustainability of UNRWA services, thus avoiding further loss of life, dignity and hope.
