Palestinians in Gaza scramble for food as US and co. suspend UNRWA funding

Palestinians in Gaza City scrambled to get sacks of flour on Saturday (January 27) as hunger stalks the enclave where 2.3 million people have been living under Israel’s bombardment since Oct. 7. The battered city, located in the centre of the strip, along with the northern area have seen the fiercest fighting in Israel’s battle against Hamas. Delivery of aid in the north and centre of Gaza is rare unlike areas near the Egyptian border that get limited supplies of imported food. Sean Casey, a World Health Organization (WHO) coordinator in Gaza said on Thursday (January 25) that the food situation in the north was “absolutely ’s almost no food available and everybody we talk to begs for food.“ Meanwhile, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday (January 26) that the U.S. welcomes the United Nations’ investigation into its refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations by Israel that agency staff members were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Britain, Italy and Finland on Saturday (January 27) became the latest countries to pause funding for the United Nations’ refugee agency, joining the United States, Australia and Canada, that had previously announced a pause in aid after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. The agency has opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with them. Israeli foreign minister called on Saturday for the United Nations’ refugee agency for Palestinians to be “replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development“ and urged other countries to pause UNRWA funding. __________________ ShanghaiEye focuses on producing top-quality contents. Nobody knows SHANGHAI better than us. Please subscribe to us ☻☻☻ __________________ For more stories, please click ■ What’s up today in Shanghai, the most updated news of the city ■ Amazing Shanghai, exploring the unknown corners of the city, learning the people, food and stories behind them ■ What Chinese people’s lives are like during the post COVID-19 period ■ Views of foreign scholars on China and its affairs ■ Foreign faces in Shanghai, people living in this city sharing their true feelings ■ Mini-docs showing why China is the country it is today __________________ ☎Leave us messages if you have any suggestions or questions! Thank you!