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UN Raising Funds to Help Curb COVID in Palestinian Refugee Camps

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The U.N. is appealing for nearly $95 million to contain and
   mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in densely populated Palestinian
   refugee camps across the Middle East.

   Overcrowded Palestinian camps are perfect breeding grounds for the
   coronavirus. Social distancing is difficult, and access is limited to
   the sanitary and health conditions necessary to keep the virus at bay.
   The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, says its efforts aimed at
   containing the virus in the camps over the past few months had been
   largely successful. Unfortunately, that has changed. Agency spokeswoman
   Tamara Alrifal says there has been a dramatic jump of COVID-19
   infections over the last few weeks, from 200 cases to 4,000 cases.
   "The jump is mostly due to the longer-term socio-economic impact of the
   lockdowns and the closures and the fact that beyond a few weeks, it was
   not possible to keep everybody confined in camps because Palestine
   refugees needed to go back to work to livelihoods," she said.
   Alrifal describes the situation as very worrisome. She says it is
   crucial UNRWA receive the funds it needs so it can support the refugees
   to stay in the camps and prevent a major outbreak of the deadly
   disease.

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