Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl speaks during a press conference in Gaza City, on May 22, 2018. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees called on Tuesday the international community to save the deteriorating health sector in Gaza. (Xinhua/Stringer)
GAZA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees called on Tuesday the international community to save the deteriorating health sector in Gaza.
"This morning I'm sending out an emergency call to help save Gaza's health system," Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl told reporters in Gaza.
He said Gaza is facing a major human and health care disaster due to the high numbers of injured Palestinians by Israeli fire during the rallies known as the "Great March of Return."
Krahenbuhl also urged for boosting UNRWA's ability to provide care to the released patients and the many amputees that will require long-term assistance.
He stressed that dehumanizing the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will not bring peace to the region.
At least 112 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the rallies kicked off on March 30.
The protests are held along Gaza-Israel borders, demanding the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes in Israel as well as breaking the blockade Israel has been imposing on the territory since 2007.
UNRWA, which provides assistance in education, health and food to some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, is already suffering big financial deficit due to recent U.S. fund suspension.
The United States decided in January to decrease its contribution to UNRWA in 2018 from 125 million U.S. dollars to 65 million dollars.
The U.S. administration has also announced it will not provide the agency with 45 million dollars for aid that it pledged in December last year.
