The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Thursday that it is seeking to raise $481 million for the Gaza Strip due to "unprecedented destruction" there, increasing needs in the West Bank, and potential mass displacement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, stated, "A month of complete siege and fierce war has created enormous humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip, increasing by the hour."
UNRWA noted in a statement that the funds will be used to provide essential food aid, shelter, water, and sanitation to 1.6 million people in Gaza, as well as to ensure healthcare and protection for those living in the occupied West Bank. It also emphasized that funding is critical for Lebanon "in anticipation of potential mass displacement of Palestinian refugees, specifically in the areas of Sidon and Tyre in the southern part of the country."
The United Nations has reported that tens of thousands have already been displaced due to clashes along the Israeli-Lebanese border, which have escalated since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This new appeal follows a previous one announced by the United Nations last week to raise $1.2 billion.
