The Biden administration should support the restoration of United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) consistent with the recently introduced House Resolution 9649: "UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024," said 105 civil society organizations, including DAWN, in a joint letter. UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, the groups said.
"Following UNRWA's and the UN's swift and decisive response to the concerns raised by the Administration when it paused funding in January" the groups said "it is now time for the Administration to actively reengage with Congress with the goal of resuming US funding for UNRWA. Fifteen other governments joined the United States in pausing funding to UNRWA; however, after having performed their own due diligence and rigorous oversight, all 15 have since resumed support to the Agency — leaving the United States the only holdout."
The groups warned that, "the needs are even greater as the risk of famine and disease mount. UNRWA's role in responding to the acute humanitarian crisis is paramount to prevent widespread famine and disease outbreak."
The full letter and list of signing organizations follows below.
September 23, 2024
President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We, the undersigned 105 civil society organizations, write to respectfully request your administration's support for the restoration of United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) consistent with the recently introduced H.R. 9649: "UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024".
UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, as recently evidenced in the UN response plan to address the outbreak of polio. As U.S. Ambassador Wood rightly stated before the UN Security Council, "other United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations have reiterated they are not equipped to replace UNRWA, as UNRWA performs essential government-like functions their organizations do not have the capacity or structure to deliver."
Following UNRWA's and the UN's swift and decisive response to the concerns raised by the Administration when it paused funding in January, we believe it is now time for the Administration to actively reengage with Congress with the goal of resuming US funding for UNRWA.
Fifteen other governments joined the United States in pausing funding to UNRWA; however, after having performed their own due diligence and rigorous oversight, all 15 have since resumed support to the Agency — leaving the United States the only holdout. In fact, several donor nations have even increased their contributions. While this is welcome news, it does not make up for the funding lost from UNRWA's largest contributor — the United States. With the situation nearing its one-year mark, the needs are even greater as the risk of famine and disease mount. UNRWA's role in responding to the acute humanitarian crisis is paramount to prevent widespread famine and disease outbreak.
Securing an immediate ceasefire, unconditional release of all remaining hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access are only a starting point for a long and difficult rebuilding process. Safeguarding the role of UNRWA, particularly as a provider of primary healthcare and education, is critical for the future of Gaza. Strong congressional support for H.R. 9649 will reflect the growing support of the American people for immediate and effective responses to the unimaginable humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip.
We appreciate your consideration of our request and hope we can continue to rely on your support for the humanitarian needs and human rights of displaced Palestinians.
Respectfully,
- UNRWA USA National Committee
- ACCESS of WNY
- Action Corps
- Al Otro Lado
- Alliance of Baptists
- American Baptist Churches USA
- American Friends Service Committee
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
- Americans for Peace Now
- Amnesty International USA
- ANAR
- Arab American Institute (AAI)
- Avaaz
- Carolina Peace Center
- Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
- Center for Economic and Policy Research
- Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
- Center for International Policy
- Center for Security, Race and Rights
- Center for Victims of Torture
- Charity & Security Network
- Church World Service
- Civic Ark
- Climate Refugees
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
- Common Defense
- Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP)
- Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
- DAWN
- Demand Progress
- Detention Watch Network
- Disciples Center for Public Witness
- Disciples Peace Fellowship
- Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Washington DC
- Emgage Action
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Every Campus A Refuge
- Faith In Texas
- Families For Freedom
- First Friends of New Jersey & New York
- Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
- Foreign Policy for America
- Free Migration Project
- Freedom Forward
- Friends Committee on National Legislation
- Hindus for Human Rights
- Human Rights First
- IfNotNow
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
- Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- J Street
- Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice
- Jewish Voice for Peace Action
- Just Foreign Policy
- MADRE
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
- Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
- Migrant Roots Media
- Minnesota Peace Project
- MoveOn
- MPower Change Action Fund
- Muslim Advocates
- Muslim Justice League
- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- National Council of Churches
- National Partnership for New Americans
- NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
- Never Again Action
- Nonviolent Peaceforce
- Norwegian Refugee Council USA
- Oasis Legal Services
- Oil Change International
- Oxfam America
- Pax Christi USA
- Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus
- Peace Action
- Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition
- People's Action
- Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi
- Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
- Project South
- Reformed Church in America
- Refugee Congress
- Refugees International
- ReThinking Foreign Policy
- RootsAction.org
- Society of the flora, fauna & friend
- The American Task Force on Lebanon
- The Episcopal Church
- The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
- The United Church of Christ
- THRIVE Center for Survivors of Torture
- Transformations CDC
- US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR Action)
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
- Virginia Coalition for Human Rights
- We Are All America (WAAA)
- Welcoming America
- Win Without War
- Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center
- Witness at the Border
- Women's Refugee Commission
- Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
