(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced Tuesday that it will suspend financial assistance and rental allowance for Gaza homes destroyed during Israel's war on the coastal territory, citing lack of funding.
The agency said in a statement that it had received only $135million of pledged aid, leaving a shortfall of $724million, which was agreed at a Cairo conference on Gaza's reconstruction.
"What was pledged at the conference had not yet been received", it said, adding that 96,000 homes were destroyed during last summer's Gaza war.
So far, the UNRWA provided $77million to 66,000 families to repair their houses and as rental allowance, added the statement.
"Agony continues in Gaza this winter as people are still sleeping among the rubble and children are dying from the winter cold", said Robert Turner, director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza.
He stressed that the funds pledged by donor nations at the Cairo conference had not reached yet, which was "unacceptable and frustrating", adding that "it was not clear why the reconstruction money had not come through yet." "UNRWA needs $100million during the current quarter of this year to repair damaged homes and pay rent allowance," added Turner, while noting that if UNRWA could not continue to provide the rental subsidy then large numbers may return to the collective centers where displaced Palestinians continue to seek shelter.
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