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The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has temporarily halted aid to the Gaza Strip over fears of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“UNRWA food aid will be temporarily suspended until finding a safer way to deliver aid,” UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna said in a statement on Monday.
“The suspension is a precautionary measure to maintain the safety of [UNRWA]’s staff and beneficiaries,” Abu Hasna added.
As of Wednesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry reported seven new cases of the coronavirus in Gaza, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to nine in the densely-populated territory.
There are around 1.4 million refugees in Gaza, according to UN figures.
