Overall, UNRWA is urging the Trump Administration to restore its funding so that it can help handle the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
In 2018, the Trump administration cut all funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Over five million people in the region rely on the organization for social services, but now their work has become even more crucial in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
In the West Bank, laborer who commute from there to Israel and back are bringing the coronavirus back with them. As of March 27, Israel has about 2000 cases while the West Bank and Gaza have 91, 9 of which are in Gaza.
Gaza is a densely populated place without much room for social distancing. With the start of the pandemic there, the devastation could be severe.
