The Health Sector in the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) expresses deep concern over the recent decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to suspend its contracts with local health-focused organizations that provide natural and cesarean birth services, as well as gynecological surgeries, due to its ongoing financial crisis.

The Health Sector in PNGO points out that since 2011, UNRWA has covered natural and cesarean birth services through agreements with local health NGOs. However, UNRWA has now informed its contracted partners of the termination of this long-standing medical coverage, which has included essential maternity services and gynecological surgeries for Palestinian refugee women.

PNGO Health Sector warns that this suspension will severely worsen the already fragile healthcare situation and deprive vulnerable groups of basic, urgent, and non-deferrable medical care.

It stresses that UNRWA serves as a backbone of humanitarian assistance, delivering essential services that cannot be dispensed with - particularly in the areas of health, education, relief, environmental health, and other vital social, psychological, and life-saving services.

PNGO Health Sector urgently calls on all Arab and international actors to intervene immediately to support UNRWA at all levels - particularly financially - and to strengthen its services, especially within the health sector in the Gaza Strip.

It also calls for protection and reinforcement of UNRWA’s role in the face of Israeli occupation attacks on its staff and facilities, efforts to ban its operations, and the ongoing incitement campaign targeting the Agency.

Finally, PNGO Health Sector reaffirms its commitment to partnership with UNRWA in confronting the devastating impact of the Israeli occupation aggression on the Palestinian people amid bombardment, blockade, starvation, and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.