Save UNRWA for the sake of Palestinian lives

March 21, 2024

By Iman Abid, USCPR Action

As soon as TOMORROW, Congress will vote on the appropriations bill, which bans all direct humanitarian funding to UNRWA until 2025.

We can’t let that happen. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is the only UN agency with the infrastructure to provide aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza. President Biden has already worsened forced starvation in Gaza by cutting off funding to UNRWA—and extending this cruelty would come at the cost of countless Palestinian lives.

At this moment, I ask you to stop whatever you’re doing, pick up the phone, and call your members of Congress now, before it’s too late.

Tell Congress to VOTE NO on this appropriations bill and immediately restore the life-saving humanitarian aid funding to UNRWA.

It crushes my heart knowing that 1.1 million Palestinian people in Gaza are being forcibly starved by Israel right now, and during the holy month of Ramadan of all times.

Palestinian families have been forced to make meals with grass or animal feed to survive. Newborn babies are so weak and exhausted from malnutrition that they do not even have the energy to cry. Israel has caused our people to suffer beyond understanding.

The Israeli military is deliberately blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, while shooting at any Palestinian person who comes to collect the very little flour allowed in. It couldn’t be more obvious that Israel is weaponizing starvation and smearing the largest aid agency present to kill as many Palestinians as possible.

This is all part of the same genocidal plan, as Israeli soldiers are point-blank executing and kidnapping Palestinians in Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza. Last night, Israel forced Palestinians sheltering in Al-Shifa Hospital to leave under the threat of bombing them.

Several countries have resumed direct funding to UNRWA, but the U.S. has only deepened its active role in Israel’s atrocities.

Don’t let your members of Congress get away with killing more Palestinian people who are already being forcibly starved by Israel. Pick up the phone and call Congress now.

While Israel commits atrocities with our U.S. tax dollars, our steadfast spirit of resistance lives on. The pressure on our politicians is mounting. Remember that the real power lies with the people, and always keep fighting.

Iman Abid is the Organizing & Advocacy Director at USCPR Action.