AP – Support has surged for the United States (US) nonprofit that raises money for UNRWA, the United Nations (UN) agency that serves Palestinian refugees, since the start of the war in Gaza. That is despite the US government cutting off funding for UNRWA and accusations from Israel that it supports Hamas.
Giving to nonprofits is one way Americans have reacted to the war that broke out on October 7, 2023.
With the recent ceasefire, the work of humanitarian organisations like UNRWA is kicking into high gear. However, a new Israeli law cutting ties with the organisation could greatly hinder its ability to operate in Gaza and the West Bank. It’s unclear how it would be replaced if forced to close.
Supporters of Israel have also seen a surge in donations for what they say will be a lengthy rehabilitation and reconstruction process there as well.
Some 139,000 people have given to UNRWA USA since October 2023, said executive director Mara Kronenfeld, a huge jump from the 7,000 people it counted among its donor base before the current war. Those donors, and some institutional funders, gave USD32 million in 2023 and she expects the total raised in 2024 to reach over USD51 million.
Previously, the nonprofit raised around USD4 million annually, she said. UNRWA USA is a separate but affiliated nonprofit that supports UNRWA’s mission through advocacy and fundraising.
PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINIANS
UNRWA has been the main agency providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, though Israel has accused it of employing hundreds of militants and allowing Hamas to operate out of its schools and other facilities. UNRWA denies those accusations.
It’s hard to provide an overall view of US donors’ response to the war. Typically, there is a lag of more than a year before researchers can access the grant information that nonprofit organisations report on their tax forms. Polarised responses to the war among the public likely also deter some donors and organisations from publicising their support.
The US had been the UNRWA’s largest funder, sending USD422 million in 2023 and USD343 million in 2022. The funds raised by UNRWA USA do not replace the amount withheld by the US government, Kronenfeld said, but she sees the donations from individuals as evidence that people have not given up hope trying to save lives in Gaza.
