Saudi Arabia Supports UNRWA with $40 Million

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center announced today its commitment to inject $40 million to enhance Saudi Arabia's funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). According to its website, UNRWA oversees shelters and provides food and healthcare for approximately two million people in Gaza. A report supported by the United Nations warned on Monday that northern Gaza is facing an imminent famine as global pressure on Israel escalates to allow more humanitarian aid into the territory, which has a population of 2.3 million. Canada, Australia, and Sweden have recently resumed funding for UNRWA, and a number of Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, have also increased their financial support for the UN agency. However, according to UNRWA spokesperson Tamara al-Rifai, this may not be sufficient, stating that "the United States is our largest donor, and thus any amount of compensation provided by other donors, no matter how generous, will not realistically fill the gap left by the United States."