June 1, 2021

Measures include providing humanitarian relief, freedom of movement and restoring strong US support to UNRWA

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) And Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Led a letter with over a dozen of their Senate colleagues urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take immediate action to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In their letter, the senators urge Secretary Blinken to support immediate emergency relief and humanitarian access, vigorously fund humanitarian efforts and restore the US diplomatic presence on the ground. Senators were joined in sending the letter by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey ( D- Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (DR.I.), Martin Heinrich (DN.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.) and Maggie Hassan (DN.H.).

Senators write, “As you well know, there was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza before the fighting began, and these recent hostilities have dramatically worsened the terrible humanitarian emergency on the ground. According to recent reports, fighting damaged 17 hospitals and clinics in Gaza, destroyed the only coronavirus testing laboratory, sent foul sewage through its streets, smashed water pipes serving at least 800,000 people, disconnected a factory desalination plant, which provides fresh water to 250,000 people, damaged or closed dozens of schools affecting some 600,000 students, cut electricity and forced 91,000 Gazans to flee their homes. More than 71,200 civilians sought protection inside UNRWA schools during the conflict.

They continue, “We must face this humanitarian emergency while supporting a lasting ceasefire and a return to international diplomacy. To this end, we ask you to take four immediate steps:

1. Support emergency relief: Lobby all parties to allow unhindered distribution of emergency relief, emergency repairs to critical infrastructure and for families to receive food and water, access medical care and other emergency needs. Announce new bilateral funding for humanitarian and development assistance to meet urgent needs, including access to clean water and wastewater treatment, and encourage other donors, including Israel, the EU and the GCC countries, to do the same.
2. Support humanitarian access: Ensure the opening of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings, so that essential humanitarian personnel, including trauma coordinators and security advisers, can enter and relief items are available. emergency, including fuel and construction materials, can be dispatched to meet the increased needs of the civilian population. The United States should also work to relax in emergencies and ultimately lift severe restrictions on freedom of movement that prevent Gazans from accessing essential health care, visiting to their family members and to accept educational and other opportunities outside the Gaza Strip.
3. Vigorously fund humanitarian efforts, including fully funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency: UNRWA is the largest humanitarian actor on the ground and, along with other American and international NGOs, provides health services and other essential services to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. We ask that you restore UNRWA funding to previous annual funding levels of $ 360 million and strongly support future emergency appeals, complying with all applicable US laws and monitoring standards for recipients. and implementing organizations.
4. Restore the United States diplomatic presence on the ground: A number of key positions, including the United States Ambassador, Consul General and USAID Chief of Mission, remain vacant or functions are covered by “interim” officials. These positions are essential to our diplomatic engagement with Israel and the Palestinians and to the management of US humanitarian aid and development programs and should be filled with permanent appointments as soon as possible.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Blinken:

We write about the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the need to use all diplomatic tools to support a lasting end to hostilities in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank. We welcome your commitment to work with the international community to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and mobilize support from international donors to address urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Gaza.

As you are well aware, there was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza before the fighting broke out, and these recent hostilities have dramatically worsened the terrible humanitarian emergency on the ground. According to recent reports, fighting damaged 17 hospitals and clinics in Gaza, destroyed the only coronavirus testing laboratory, sent foul sewage through its streets, smashed water pipes serving at least 800,000 people, disconnected a factory desalination plant, which provides fresh water to 250,000 people, damaged or closed dozens of schools affecting some 600,000 students, cut electricity and forced 91,000 Gazans to flee their homes. More than 71,200 civilians sought protection inside UNRWA schools during the conflict.

We must face this humanitarian emergency while supporting a lasting ceasefire and a return to international diplomacy. To this end, we ask you to take four immediate steps:

1. Support emergency relief: Lobby all parties to allow unhindered distribution of emergency relief, emergency repairs to critical infrastructure and for families to receive food and water, access medical care and other emergency needs. Announce new bilateral funding for humanitarian and development assistance to meet urgent needs, including access to clean water and wastewater treatment, and encourage other donors, including Israel, the EU and the GCC countries, to do the same.
2. Support humanitarian access: Ensure the opening of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings, so that essential humanitarian personnel, including trauma coordinators and security advisers, can enter and relief items are available. emergency, including fuel and construction materials, can be dispatched to meet the increased needs of the civilian population. The United States should also work to relax in emergencies and ultimately lift severe restrictions on freedom of movement that prevent Gazans from accessing essential health care, visiting to their family members and to accept educational and other opportunities outside the Gaza Strip.
3. Vigorously fund humanitarian efforts, including fully funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency: UNRWA is the largest humanitarian actor on the ground and, along with other American and international NGOs, provides health services and other essential services to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. We ask that you restore UNRWA funding to previous annual funding levels of $ 360 million and strongly support future emergency appeals, complying with all applicable US laws and monitoring standards for recipients. and implementing organizations.
4. Restore the United States diplomatic presence on the ground: A number of key positions, including the United States Ambassador, Consul General and USAID Chief of Mission, remain vacant or functions are covered by “interim” officials. These positions are essential to our diplomatic engagement with Israel and the Palestinians and to the management of US humanitarian aid and development programs and should be filled with permanent appointments as soon as possible.

The United States has a critical role to play in meeting urgent humanitarian needs, coordinating with our allies and the international community, and supporting and working with the parties to recognize and protect the human rights and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians. . For this ceasefire to be sustainable and prevent a resumption of the cycle of violence, it is essential that we improve the dire conditions in Gaza which only contribute to desperation and further fuel extremism. We urge you to intensify the diplomatic engagement of the United States to lead the international community and respond at this time.

Truly,