1/9 I am really disheartened by the severity of @UNRWA ‘s financial situation and its impact to an already stressful situation. My team and I are working relentlessly to overcome it

2/9 I will not stop my lobbying efforts towards donors until @UNRWA overcomes this financial crisis: we all owe it to #PalestineRefugees, they have rights that the international community must honor

3/9 Some may ask why this happens to @UNRWA every year? Mainly because the strong political support is not translated by all into adequate resources

4/9 The #US defunding of USD 360 million in 2018 deprived @UNRWA of more than ONE BILLION USD over 3 years: does an agency ever recover from such a shock?

5/9 After this defunding @UNRWA received an outpour of solidarity+funding to fill the gap. Sadly though several major donors did not sustain same level of funding in 2019 & 2020

6/9 Today @UNRWA is in deep crisis as 2020 has the lowest funding for years, putting our services to #PalestineRefugees at risk

7/9 We must collectively stand up to the obligation of protecting the dignity, rights+wellbeing of #PalestineRefugees thru maintaining full @UNRWA services. No other decision has been taken yet than keeping children at school, keeping our health centers open and to preserve jobs.

8/9 The @UNRWA relentless frontline health+sanitation+social+education workers are key during #COVID-19 pandemic: they deserve all my respect and full support from donors

9/9 #COVID19 puts extreme strain on @UNRWA staff and on #PalestineRefugees: this global health pandemic is also pandemic of abject poverty. I plead for solidarity so that we all support the most vulnerable and prevent more despair and distress.