SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Palestinians take part in a protest against the reduction aid from the UN, in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on April 1, 2013. (AFP/Said Khatib)
Following Protest, UN Suspends Assistance in Gaza Strip
Apr 05, 2013
The UN's relief agency in Gaza has suspended its cash assistance program in the Gaza strip after protesters on Thursday stormed their offices.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides both cash, food, and other forms of direct assistance to nearly 800,000 Palestinian refugees living inside Gaza. That figure accounts for approximately two-thirds of the population. Though the head of UNRWA said food assistance would continue, the suspension of cash aid will affect approximately 25,000 people per day.
Protests against the agency grew throughout the week following UNRWA's announcement that budget cuts would lead to a decreasel in aid. The culmination of anger resulted in some protesters storming the office headquarters in Gaza City. Reports indicate the UN security were able to remove those protesters and Hamas officials announced that it would improve security as well. Still, the UN announced the shuttering of operations.
"This is a very regrettable situation for us to be in," said Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza Robert Turner in a statement.
"These demonstrations affect our ability to provide much needed service to the Palestine refugees in Gaza and--because they also targeted the Gaza headquarters building--our operations in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria," He added. "We cannot tolerate these ongoing threats to our staff: their safety is of crucial concern at the moment. Any other affected installations will also remain closed."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the UN's decision "unjustified" and demanded a reversal on Friday.
"There is a right of peaceful protest for Palestinian refugees," Zuhri said. "We call on UNRWA to reevaluate its position and not to overreact to residents' protest."
As Al-Jazeera reports:
In a separate interview later, UNRWA's Sami Mshasha tried to clarify the agency's position:
________________________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your commitment. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. While every gift matters and makes a powerful difference, it gives us the stability to invest confidently in in-depth, fearless reporting — the kind of journalism that holds power accountable and fuels real change. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — your steady support helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The UN's relief agency in Gaza has suspended its cash assistance program in the Gaza strip after protesters on Thursday stormed their offices.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides both cash, food, and other forms of direct assistance to nearly 800,000 Palestinian refugees living inside Gaza. That figure accounts for approximately two-thirds of the population. Though the head of UNRWA said food assistance would continue, the suspension of cash aid will affect approximately 25,000 people per day.
Protests against the agency grew throughout the week following UNRWA's announcement that budget cuts would lead to a decreasel in aid. The culmination of anger resulted in some protesters storming the office headquarters in Gaza City. Reports indicate the UN security were able to remove those protesters and Hamas officials announced that it would improve security as well. Still, the UN announced the shuttering of operations.
"This is a very regrettable situation for us to be in," said Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza Robert Turner in a statement.
"These demonstrations affect our ability to provide much needed service to the Palestine refugees in Gaza and--because they also targeted the Gaza headquarters building--our operations in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria," He added. "We cannot tolerate these ongoing threats to our staff: their safety is of crucial concern at the moment. Any other affected installations will also remain closed."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the UN's decision "unjustified" and demanded a reversal on Friday.
"There is a right of peaceful protest for Palestinian refugees," Zuhri said. "We call on UNRWA to reevaluate its position and not to overreact to residents' protest."
As Al-Jazeera reports:
In a separate interview later, UNRWA's Sami Mshasha tried to clarify the agency's position:
________________________________
The UN's relief agency in Gaza has suspended its cash assistance program in the Gaza strip after protesters on Thursday stormed their offices.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides both cash, food, and other forms of direct assistance to nearly 800,000 Palestinian refugees living inside Gaza. That figure accounts for approximately two-thirds of the population. Though the head of UNRWA said food assistance would continue, the suspension of cash aid will affect approximately 25,000 people per day.
Protests against the agency grew throughout the week following UNRWA's announcement that budget cuts would lead to a decreasel in aid. The culmination of anger resulted in some protesters storming the office headquarters in Gaza City. Reports indicate the UN security were able to remove those protesters and Hamas officials announced that it would improve security as well. Still, the UN announced the shuttering of operations.
"This is a very regrettable situation for us to be in," said Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza Robert Turner in a statement.
"These demonstrations affect our ability to provide much needed service to the Palestine refugees in Gaza and--because they also targeted the Gaza headquarters building--our operations in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria," He added. "We cannot tolerate these ongoing threats to our staff: their safety is of crucial concern at the moment. Any other affected installations will also remain closed."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the UN's decision "unjustified" and demanded a reversal on Friday.
"There is a right of peaceful protest for Palestinian refugees," Zuhri said. "We call on UNRWA to reevaluate its position and not to overreact to residents' protest."
As Al-Jazeera reports:
In a separate interview later, UNRWA's Sami Mshasha tried to clarify the agency's position:
________________________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.