In January of this year, the Biden administration halted US funding to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), a decision that has had catastrophic humanitarian effects on the suffering people of Gaza. This was based on unsubstantiated Israeli claims that a small number (12) of UNRWA employees(13,000) were colluding with Hamas. Then in March, and still without evidence, Congress made the ban permanent until March of 2025.
UNRWA provides food, medicine and other essential services, including running schools for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in the besieged enclave. It is the primary humanitarian aid provider for the people of Gaza and has been for years.
Just recently, Senator Welch introduced S.5388 - a Senate companion bill to the House UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act. Please phone Senator King and ask for his support: 202-224-5344. You can reach out to Senator Collins, but so far she has been reluctant to revisit this funding: 202-224-2523.
Supporters in the House have, some time ago, introduced the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024. Here are the current co-sponsors today. Take a moment to thank Rep. Pingree listed as a co-sponsor!(via the switchboard number 202-224-3121)
While all other countries that suspended aid have now reinstated it, the US is alone in refusing to end its ban.
CD1 consituents PLEASE THANK REPRESENTATIVE PINGREE for cosponsoring H.R. 9649: * the Carson,Jayapal, Schakowsky bill to restore vital funding to the humanitarian assistance organization UNRWA. Representative Chellie PingreeDC office - (202) 225-6116 Portland District Office -207-774-5019 Twitter @chelliepingree
(shout out to PA/MVPR/FCNL)
For more information: UNRWA USA’s resource on the UNRWA ban which includes a digital toolkit and further resources.
