Hamas blasted UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, as being “unjust” for stopping food distribution after rioters stormed UNRWA offices in Gaza in what Hamas said was a “peaceful demonstration.”
“They were screaming, shouting and threatening employees,” said Adnan Abu Hasna, media adviser for UNRWA in Gaza. “It was a really serious danger for staff. We cannot work in such conditions – who knows when these verbal threats will turn into physical attacks?”
The protests followed the agency’s decision to remove approximately 21,000 Gaza families from the welfare list for 800,000 recipients because donors, mainly Arab League countries, have not forked up enough money to cover UNRWA’s $67 million deficit.
Abu Hasna said that Arab League countries have in the past committed to supplying 7.5 per cent of UNRWA’s annual budget but are only providing approximately 1.5 per cent of it.