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72-701: The Gaza Soup Kitchen was co-founded by brothers Hani and Mahmoud Almadhoun. Hani, the director of philanthropy for UNRWA USA , lives in Virginia , while much of his family lives in Beit Lahia. Hani attempted to lobby US officials regarding the lack of food in Gaza but was dissatisfied with their response. He became increasingly concerned in December 2023, after learning that Palestinians like his sister Samah were making bread from animal feed . Previously, Mahmoud sold mobile phones, but

144-501: A "dire financial crisis", including a funding shortfall of $ 200 million, in the wake of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. In August 2018, the U.S. ceased its contributions, arguing that UNRWA's mandate should be reduced to the few hundred thousand Palestinians alive when the agency was created. The U.S. decision resulted in the loss of $ 300 million out of the $ 1.2 billion budget, contributing to an overall deficit of $ 446 million. The shortfall

216-587: A 'life-cycle approach' to providing its package of preventive and curative health services. To address the changing needs of Palestine refugees, we undertook a major reform initiative in 2011. We introduced the Family Health Team (FHT) approach, based on the World Health Organization -indicated values of primary health care, in our primary health facilities (PHFs). The FHT offers comprehensive primary health care services based on wholistic care of

288-499: A broader Israeli targeting of health facilities in the Gaza Strip. On 3 December, the IDF struck in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan hospital, killing at least four people according to Al-Jazeera. On 11 December, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital stated Israel had killed two mothers and their newborn babies when Israel targeted its maternity ward. According to UN News, the "maternity department

360-497: A constitution or statute. The mandate may also be shaped by requests from other UN organs, such as the Secretary-General. The General Assembly passes a series of resolutions annually that address UNRWA's responsibilities, functions, and budget. As it is technically a temporary organisation, the agency's mandate is extended every three years; it was most recently renewed on 13 December 2019, extending until 30 June 2023. UNRWA

432-553: A decrease in humanitarian aid and an increase in food costs. On November 30, 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen announced that the IDF had killed Mahmoud in a drone strike that morning. According to Hani, Mahmoud was with his friend Abu Tamer when an IDF drone dropped its payload at his feet, seriously injuring him. When Abu Tamer attempted to take Mahmoud to the hospital, they were shot at. Mahmoud later died in Abu Tamer's shelter. Mahmoud

504-634: A director, who is in charge of distributing humanitarian aid and overseeing general UNRWA operations. The agency's headquarters are divided between the Gaza Strip and Amman , with the latter hosting the Deputy Commissioner-General, currently Leni Stenseth of Norway, who administers departmental activities, such as education, healthcare, and finance. UNRWA is the largest agency of the United Nations, employing over 30,000 staff, 99% of which are locally recruited Palestinians. Concurrent with

576-516: A hospital in Beit Lahia , Gaza Strip , Palestine , has been besieged multiple times by the Israel Defense Forces . Hamas has been accused of using hospitals as shields and bases to conduct attacks against Israel. The Kamal Adwan Hospital was a site of conflict during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war following the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip . Israel's targeting of Kamal Adwan came amidst

648-581: A reintegration fund which shall be utilized ... for the permanent re-establishment of refugees and their removal from relief". A subsequent resolution, dated 26 January 1952, allocated four times as much funding on reintegration than on relief, requesting UNRWA to otherwise continue providing programs for health care, education, and general welfare. UNRWA has developed its own working definition of " refugee " to allow it to provide humanitarian assistance . Its definition does not cover final status. Palestine refugees are "persons whose regular place of residence

720-533: A strong record of creating employment, generating income, and empowering refugees. The Microfinance Department is an autonomous financial unit within UNRWA, established in 1991 to provide microfinance services to Palestine refugees, as well as poor or marginal groups living and working in close proximity to them. With operations in three countries, the MD currently has the broadest regional coverage of any microfinance institution in

792-767: A widow, a divorcee, or a disabled father often live in dire poverty. These families are considered "hardship cases" and constitute less than 6% of UNRWA beneficiaries. UNRWA provides food aid, cash assistance, and help with shelter repairs to these families. In addition, children from special hardship case families are given preferential access to the Agency's vocational training centres, while women in such families are encouraged to join UNRWA's women's programme centres. In these centres, training, advice, and childcare are available to encourage female refugees' social development. UNRWA has created community-based organizations (CBOs) to target women, refugees with disabilities, and to look after

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864-586: A year, usually in June and November, to discuss important issues of UNRWA and develop a consensus-based guidance for the Commissioner-General. Additionally, members and observers convene more regularly through sub-committee meetings. The AdCom also conducts periodic field visits to UNRWA's area of operations. UNRWA services are available to all registered Palestine refugees living in its area of operations who need assistance. When UNRWA began operations in 1950, it

936-744: Is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly, established pursuant to Articles 7(2) and 22 of the UN Charter. It is one of only two UN agencies that reports directly to the General Assembly. The scope and renewal of UNRWA's mandate is determined primarily by resolutions of the General Assembly; unlike other UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization or the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees , it lacks

1008-509: Is led by a Commissioner-General—since 8 March 2020 Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland—an Under-Secretary-General of the UN responsible for managing all of the agency's activities and personnel. The Commissioner-General selects and appoints all the agency's staff, pursuant to internal rules and regulations, and reports directly to the General Assembly. UNRWA's operations are organised into five fields—Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank, and Gaza—each led by

1080-547: Is not a single document but the sum of all relevant resolutions and requests of the General Assembly. While focused on Palestine refugees, it also extends to persons displaced by "the 1967 and subsequent hostilities" and, occasionally, to a broader cross-section of the local community. Several categories of persons have long been registered as eligible to receive UNRWA services although not "Palestine refugees". The descendants of Palestine refugee males, including adopted children, are also eligible for registration as refugees. UNRWA

1152-485: Is often interrupted by conflicts, prompting UNRWA to develop a special programme that provides education in emergency situations. Per the longstanding agreement, UNRWA schools follow the curriculum of their host countries. This allows UNRWA pupils to progress to further education or employment holding locally recognised qualifications and complies with the sovereignty requirements of countries hosting refugees. Wherever possible, UNRWA students take national exams conducted by

1224-466: Is survived by 7 children, including a newborn and another child injured by an Israeli quadcopter. Several World Central Kitchen aid workers were also killed by Israel that day. In a statement on social media, the Gaza Soup Kitchen wrote that Mahmoud was "targeted and assassinated" and "killed because of his unwavering dedication to solving problems for Kamal Adwan Hospital and ensuring they had whatever they needed." Hani wrote: "You gave everything for

1296-764: The Gaza Strip and the West Bank , including East Jerusalem ; aid for Palestinian refugees outside these five areas is provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), established in 1950 as the main agency to aid all other refugees worldwide. UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a specific region or conflict. While it has received praise and recognition for its work by various governments, public figures, and independent monitors, UNRWA has also been subject to criticism and controversy related to its operations, role in

1368-628: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombed his shop. In December 2023, Mahmoud and three other male relatives were detained by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza. Hani recognized him in photos of blindfolded men held by the IDF. After he spoke about his detainment to the US media and on social media, Mahmoud was released. In an op-ed for the The Washington Post , Mahmoud recounted being "stripped to my underwear and paraded with other blindfolded men in

1440-530: The Nakba , the 1948 Palestine War , and subsequent conflicts, as well as their descendants, including legally adopted children. As of 2019, more than 5.6 million Palestinians are registered with UNRWA as refugees. UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to provide relief to all refugees resulting from the 1948 conflict; this initially included Jewish and Arab Palestine refugees inside

1512-780: The State of Israel until the Israeli government took over this responsibility in 1952. As a subsidiary body of the UNGA, UNRWA's mandate is subject to periodic renewal every three years; it has consistently been extended since its founding, most recently until 30 June 2026. UNRWA employs over 30,000 people, most of them Palestinian refugees, and a small number of international staff. Originally intended to provide employment and direct relief, its mandate has broadened to include providing education, health care, and social services to its target population. UNRWA operates in five areas: Jordan , Lebanon , Syria ,

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1584-417: The World Health Organization stated that while the hospital was still under siege, it had regained contact with its employees there, stating that four employees were injured, 44 health workers had been detained, and four ambulances were damaged. The Gaza Ministry of Health stated that Israeli forces had detained all male medical staff. On 27 October, Dr. Khalil Daqran stated only one medical staff remained in

1656-682: The 2019 total to $ 40 million. The funding situation for 2019 and beyond was discussed in April at a "Ministerial Strategic Dialogue" attended by representatives from Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, United Kingdom, the European External Action Service, and the European Commission. At the annual meeting of the General Assembly that year, a high-level ministerial meeting was held regarding UNRWA funding. In July 2020, Commissioner-General Lazzarini warned that UNRWA's budget

1728-950: The 24 leading donors and supporters of UNRWA. Palestine , the European Union , and the League of Arab States have had observer status since 2005, with the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joining as an observer in 2019. Members of the AdCom, including the year they joined, are: Australia (2005), Belgium (1953), Brazil (2014), Canada (2005), Denmark (2005), Egypt (1949), Finland (2008), France (1949), Germany (2005), Ireland (2008), Italy (2005), Japan (1973), Jordan (1949), Kazakhstan (2013), Kuwait (2010), Lebanon (1953), Luxembourg (2012), Netherlands (2005), Norway (2005), Qatar (2018), Saudi Arabia (2005), Spain (2005), Sweden (2005), Switzerland (2005), Syria (1949), Turkey (1949), United Arab Emirates (2014),

1800-514: The Gaza Soup Kitchen school was located in a commercial building. On the roof, they placed a sign that said: "School. Please Don't Bomb" in Hebrew and English. On November 3, the IDF attacked the building, leaving a hole in the ceiling and destroying the furniture inside. By November 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen was unable to serve many of the families who needed food due to the Siege of North Gaza which caused

1872-454: The Gaza Strip, relationship with Hamas , and textbook content. Most recently, the agency faced allegations by the Israeli government that twelve of its employees were involved in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel , leading to lay-offs, an investigation, and the temporary suspension of funding by numerous donors. As of May 2024, several major donors have since resumed funding as the investigation remains ongoing. In October 2024, citing

1944-669: The General Assembly adopted Resolution 302(IV), which established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The resolution was adopted and passed unopposed, supported by Israel and the Arab states, with only the Soviet bloc and South Africa abstaining. UNRWA succeeded the UNRPR with a broader mandate for humanitarian assistance and development, and

2016-592: The Interior Ministry. In May 2024, Israel bombed the vicinity of the hospital, which the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on 19 May was "deeply worrisome". Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on 21 May that the hospital had been attacked four times in the prior twenty four hours. The same day, the hospital was evacuated, though patients connected to machines were unable to be evacuated. Medics stated on 22 May that missiles hit

2088-490: The Israeli military had destroyed the hospital's main electrical generators. In August 2024, officials at Kamal Adwan Hospital warned that the hospital was at risk of closure due to lack of fuel and medicine, putting 11 children at risk of death. In October 2024 during the siege of Northern Gaza , the Israeli military ordered the complete evacuation of the Kamal Adwan Hospital within 24 hours. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia,

2160-693: The Middle East. Having begun its operations in the Palestinian territories, it remains the largest non-bank financial intermediary in the West Bank and Gaza. Key figures, cumulative as of 2023 are: UNRWA takes a wide variety of actions to mitigate the effects of emergencies on the lives of Palestine refugees. Kamal Adwan Hospital sieges During the Israel–Hamas war , the Kamal Adwan Hospital ,

2232-503: The UN General Assembly. Since its initial establishment in 1949, its operations have expanded beyond immediate relief and social services; as of 2019, the bulk of its budget is spent on education (58 percent), followed by health care (15 percent), and general support services (13 percent). Education is UNRWA's largest area of activity, accounting for more than half its regular budget and the majority of its staff. It operates one of

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2304-460: The UN stated a bombing on the hospital's third floor had destroyed critical medical supplies. On 4 November 2024, the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , wrote that shortly after a WHO mission, a reported attack on the third floor injured six child patients. The same day, the health ministry stated that there were "many" injuries amongst patients and staff following Israel "violently bombard[ing]"

2376-604: The United Kingdom (1949), and the United States (1949). The Advisory Commission is led by a chair and a vice-chair, representing a host country and a donor country, respectively. Each is appointed annually in June from among the Commission members according to the alphabetical rotation, serving for one year beginning 1 July. At each appointment, the chair will alternate between a host and a donor country. The AdCom meets twice

2448-815: The World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , stated he was "extremely worried" about the situation at Kamal Adwan. The IDF released a video claiming that it showed alleged terrorists near Kamal Adwan reportedly surrendering their weapons. These claims were quickly challenged by family members who identified their non-combatant relatives. On 14 December, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 2,500 internally displaced persons had been forcibly evacuated, and that IDF soldiers had prevented medical staff from continuing support to 12 babies in intensive care and ten emergency department patients, leading to two deaths. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated patients had evacuated Kamal Adwan hospital, resulting in

2520-675: The allegations, Israel's parliament passed a bill designating UNRWA as a terrorist group, and prohibiting it from operating within the country. Following the outbreak of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War , and the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight of Palestinian Arabs , the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 212 (III), dated 19 November 1948, which established the UN Relief for Palestine Refugees (UNRPR) to provide emergency relief to Palestine refugees in coordination with other UN or humanitarian agencies. In response to

2592-465: The cold like circus animals" and wrote that none of the detained men were militants. He also told PBS that the experience inspired him to help others. The brothers have lost at least 150 family members in the war, including their brother Majed, his wife, and their four children. In early 2024, the brothers started the Gaza Soup Kitchen. To support their efforts, Hani created a GoFundMe campaign, raising $ 1 million by July 2024. Hani transfers money to

2664-508: The conflict had displaced over 700,000 people. Unable to resolve the "Palestine problem", which required political solutions beyond the scope of its mandate, the UNCCP recommended the creation of a "United Nations agency designed to continue relief activities and initiate job-creation projects" while an ultimate resolution was pending. Pursuant to this recommendation, and to paragraph 11 of Resolution 194, which concerned refugees, on 8 December 1949,

2736-414: The creation of UNRWA, the UN General Assembly established an Advisory Commission (AdCom) to assist the Commissioner-General in carrying out the Agency's mandate. Created with four members, the AdCom currently has 28 members and four observers. Membership is obtained via General Assembly resolutions, with all host countries of Palestinian refugees (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon) sitting on the commission, followed by

2808-653: The deaths of patients, including a nine-year-old. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated on 16 December that according to media reports "an Israeli military bulldozer flattened the tents of a number of internally displaced persons outside the hospital, killing and wounding an unconfirmed number of people." One reporter described "a terrifying massacre and unspeakable scenes" and stating, "Dozens of displaced, sick and wounded people were buried alive". A man stated his 25-year-old son had been buried alive by IDF bulldozers at Kamal Adwan and in

2880-468: The entire family, emphasizing long-term provider-patient relationships and ensuring person-centeredness, comprehensiveness, and continuity. Moreover, the FHT helps address intersectional issues that impact health, such as diet and physical activity, education, gender-based violence, child protection, poverty, and community development. Medical services include outpatient care, dental treatment, and rehabilitation for

2952-517: The entire hospital, and that Israeli forces had set parts of the hospital on fire, destroyed its entrances, and demolished walls. On 28 October, the IDF said that it captured 100 Hamas militants during the raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Both local medics and Hamas denied there was any militant presence at the hospital. Later that day, the IDF withdrew from the hospital. Following the raid, the Gaza Ministry of Health stated, "Two children have died in

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3024-459: The first in the region to achieve full gender equality , and a slight majority of enrolled students are female. Half the Palestine refugee population is under 25. Overcrowded classrooms containing 40 or even 50 pupils are common. Almost three-quarters run on a double-shift system, where two separate groups of pupils and teachers share the same buildings, thus reducing teaching time. The school year

3096-575: The hospital and integrated its operations into its functions. The Gaza Health Ministry said that "Kahlot’s confessions were extracted under the use of force, coercion, torture and intimidation." The Ministry of Health said that Kahlout works for the Military Medical Services, a branch of the Ministry of the Interior and that the rank of brigadier general was part of the ranking system used by

3168-417: The hospital director stated the Israeli military was committing "deliberate murder." He stated, "There are more than 15 cases that need surgeries that we cannot perform in the hospital". On 24 October 2024, video showed Israeli tanks firing on the hospital. On 25 October, Israel raided the hospital. The Palestinian health ministry stated 600 patients, companions, and staff were trapped. The following day,

3240-480: The hospital was used to shelter terrorists, arguing that this invalidated the protection provided by the Geneva Conventions . Israel claims to have arrested 80 Hamas operatives in the base and had found weapons in the location. Staff reported the Israeli troops shooting at doctors and setting dogs to maul handicapped patients. The hospital's director, Ahmed Kahlout, was arrested following the IDF's takeover of

3312-500: The hospital's director, said the hospital would remain in service, stating, "We have babies and newborns that are in the ICU. Even if we can evacuate a few patients, we cannot leave the hospital because there is no other hospital that is providing services and treatment to children". As Israel's deadline for evacuation, the Israeli army was reported to be advancing on the hospital while "committing massacres against civilians". On 24 October 2024,

3384-516: The hospital's emergency department. On 24 May, Israeli forces massed outside the hospital entrance, leading the hospital's head of nursing to state, "It is considered practically, because it is besieged, not operational". The hospital was hit twice by artillery. On 25 May, the head of pediatrics stated Israeli forces were still surrounding the hospital. Upon Israel's withdrawal from the Jabalia refugee camp, Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency stated that

3456-491: The hospital. Following an interrogation by the Israel Defense Forces , the Israeli military reported that he had confessed that the hospital was being used as a military operations center. He is reported to have said that he joined Hamas in 2010 at the equivalent rank of a brigadier general and that many hospital staff members, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and others, also served as members of Hamas's al-Qassam brigades . According to Kahlout, Hamas concealed weapons within

3528-518: The host government and UNRWA governing the use of the camp. UNRWA does not itself run camps, has no police powers or administrative role, but simply provides services in the camp. Refugee camps, which developed from tent cities to dense urban dwellings similar to their urban surroundings, house around one-third of all registered Palestine refugees. UNRWA's budget is set by the UN General Assembly and derives almost entirely from voluntary contributions by UN member states. It also receives some revenue from

3600-410: The host governments. Pupils at UNRWA schools often out-perform government school pupils in these state exams. Not all refugee children attend UNRWA schools. In Jordan and Syria, children have full access to government schools and many attend those because they are close to where they reside. In Palestinian refugee society, families without a male breadwinner are often very vulnerable. Those headed by

3672-502: The intensive care unit after the hospital's generators failed and the oxygen station was targeted". One of the two remaining doctors at the hospital warned that "patients and the injured are strewn all over the hospital floor". Officials stated one doctor had been killed by an Israeli drone. The W.H.O. stated they had continued with patient evacuations, as Kamal Adwan's building was damaged, four ambulances were destroyed, and patients needed medical supplies, food, and water. On 31 October,

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3744-659: The largest individual donor. The next largest donors were the EU, United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates, followed by Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, Qatar, and the Netherlands. UNRWA also establishes partnerships with nongovernmental donors, including nonprofit "national committees" based in donor countries. The voluntary nature of UNRWA funding has led to budgetary problems due to acute emergencies or political developments in donor countries. In 2009, officials spoke of

3816-404: The largest school systems in the Middle East, spanning 711 elementary and preparatory schools, eight vocational and technical schools, and two teacher training institutes. It has been the main provider of basic education to Palestinian refugee children since 1950. Free basic education is available to all registered refugee children, currently numbering 526,000. In the 1960s, UNRWA schools became

3888-415: The meals are vegetarian and include foods like zucchini, potatoes, lentils, or khubeza . Due to the lack of fuel, meals are prepared over a wood fire. On its first day, the soup kitchen fed 150 families, increasing to as many as 3,000 people a day by April 2024. Mahmoud told reporters that families come to the soup kitchen in the morning to wait in line for food distribution in the evening. For many people,

3960-666: The needs of children. The CBOs now have their own management committees staffed by volunteers from the community. UNRWA provides them with technical and small sums of targeted financial assistance, but many have formed links of their own with local and international NGOs. Since 1950, UNRWA has been the main healthcare provider for Palestinian refugees. Basic health needs are met through a network of primary care clinics, providing access to secondary treatment in hospitals, food aid to vulnerable groups, and environmental health in refugee camps. Key figures for 2014 are: The health of Palestine refugees has long resembled that of many populations in

4032-422: The physically disabled. Maternal and child healthcare (MCH) is a priority for UNRWA's health program. School health teams and camp medical officers visit UNRWA schools to examine new pupils to aid early detection of childhood diseases. All UNRWA clinics offer family planning services with counselling that emphasises the importance of birth spacing as a factor in maternal and child health. Agency clinics also supervise

4104-497: The political aspects of the conflict, less than a month later the General Assembly adopted Resolution 194 , creating the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP), mandated to help achieve a final settlement between the warring parties, including facilitating "the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees" in collaboration with the UNRPR. By that time,

4176-533: The provision of food aid to nursing and pregnant mothers who need it, and six clinics in the Gaza Strip have their own maternity units. Infant mortality rates have for some time been lower among refugees than the World Health Organization 's benchmark for the developing world. UNRWA provides refugees with assistance in meeting the costs of hospitalisation either by partially reimbursing them, or by negotiating contracts with government, NGOs, and private hospitals. UNRWA's environmental health services program "controls

4248-429: The quality of drinking water, provides sanitation, and carries out vector and rodent control in refugee camps, thus reducing the risk of epidemics." UNRWA's Microfinance Department (MD) aims to alleviate poverty and support economic development in the refugee community by providing capital investment and working capital loans at commercial rates. The programme seeks to be as close to self-supporting as possible. It has

4320-620: The regular UN budget, mostly for international staffing costs. In addition to its regular budget, UNRWA receives funding for emergency activities and special projects, such as in response to the Syrian civil war and the COVID-19 pandemic . Historically, most of the agency's funds came from the United States and the European Commission ; in 2019, close to 60 percent of its total pledge of $ 1.00 billion came from EU countries , with Germany being

4392-400: The requirement to function neutrally. When it began operations in 1950, the initial scope of its work was "direct relief and works programmes" to Palestine refugees, in order to "prevent conditions of starvation and distress… and to further conditions of peace and stability". UNRWA's mandate was soon expanded through Resolution 393(V) (2 December 1950), which instructed the agency to "establish

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4464-552: The sake of others, and your legacy will not be forgotten." UNRWA USA and New York City restaurant chain Ayat have also paid tribute to Mahmoud on social media. UNRWA The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA , pronounced / ˈ ʌ n r ə / UN -rə ) is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees . UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians who fled or were expelled during

4536-546: The same report the IDF was accused of necroviolence by running over corpses with a bulldozer. A video purporting to be footage of the incident circulated but France24 reported that the video was unrelated to the hospital siege. Director general of the Gaza Health Ministry, Munir al-Bursh, claims to have been shot at by Israeli forces while giving a press conference in front of the hospital, and that Israeli forces arrested 70 medical professionals. Israel claims that

4608-493: The soup kitchen is their only source of food. In addition to providing food, Hani has noted that the Gaza Soup Kitchen "allows for healing, whether you are preparing food or receiving it, it allows people to imagine hope." In March 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen reported that they were also providing food to the Kamal Adwan Hospital. The same month, they opened another location in Rafah , run by Hani and Mahmoud's sister, Niveen. The kitchen

4680-435: The soup kitchen with difficulty due to Gaza's damaged financial infrastructure. Mahmoud, the head chef until he was killed in an Israeli drone strike, was assisted by his relatives, including his mother and sister Faten. To obtain ingredients, the Gaza Soup Kitchen barters, forages, or purchases food at high cost. Searching for food in Gaza is dangerous; Mahmoud reported being shot at while trying to acquire ingredients. Most of

4752-473: The transition from developing world to developed world status. However, there is now a demographic transition. People are living longer and developing different needs, particularly those related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and chronic conditions that require lifelong care, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. A healthy life is a continuum of phases from infancy to old age, each of which has unique, specific needs, and our programme therefore takes

4824-415: Was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." The Six-Day War of 1967 generated a new wave of Palestinian refugees who could not be included in the original UNRWA definition. Since 1991, the UN General Assembly has adopted an annual resolution allowing the 1967 refugees within the UNRWA mandate. UNRWA's "mandate"

4896-510: Was "not sustainable", with shortfalls in four out of the five previous years, and funding at its lowest point since 2012. According to the World Bank , for all countries receiving more than $ 2 billion in international aid in 2012, Gaza and the West Bank received a per capita aid budget over double the next largest recipient, at a rate of $ 495. UNRWA provides a wide variety of social and humanitarian services, as determined by resolutions of

4968-707: Was covered with increased contributions from elsewhere. In mid-2019, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland temporarily suspended funding to UNRWA, citing ethics report that alleged mismanagement, corruption, and discrimination among the agency's leadership. In December 2019, the Netherlands restored its funding, increasing its donation by €6 million for 2019, to €19 million. The EU increased its contribution from €82 million ($ 92.2 million) by €21 million ($ 23.3 million), and Germany agreed to fund four new UNRWA projects, totaling €59 million ($ 65.6 million). Qatar increased its donation for Palestinians in Syria by $ 20.7 million, bringing

5040-579: Was later closed due to Israel's Rafah offensive . The Washington Post published an op-ed by Mahmoud in April 2024, in which he wrote that he would feed his neighbors for as long as possible. He stated: "We will keep serving our community, remembering that when all else has failed the Palestinians, the land did not." In September 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen opened a school for local children in Beit Lahia. Because many school buildings have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes or repurposed as refugee camps,

5112-431: Was reportedly hit during shelling and two mothers were killed". As of August 2024, the Kamal Adwan Hospital houses the only functioning neo-natal ICU left in Gaza. On 12 December, Israel raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital. The head of pediatrics stated the IDF had ordered all men and boys above age sixteen to leave the hospital to be searched. 70 medical staffers were arrested and taken to an unknown location. The head of

5184-506: Was responding to the needs of about 700,000 Palestinian refugees. By 2023, some 5.9 million people were registered as eligible for UNRWA services. UNRWA provides facilities in 59 recognized refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and in other areas where large numbers of registered Palestine refugees live outside of recognized camps. For a camp to be recognized by UNRWA, there must be an agreement between

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