RAMALLAH, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing a critical financial situation amid the outbreak of COVID-19, despite the low number of infected refugees, said the agency's spokesperson.

"The financial situation is at a critical point, in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus," said UNRWA's spokesperson Sami Mshasha, noting that the organization received only 4 million U.S. dollars in response to its flash appeal launched in March to meet its 14-million-dollar needs to confront the deadly virus.

"Different world countries are busy dealing with their own affairs. This is natural and we understand it, but the virus will not stop at the gates of the refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon or in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem," he added.

Mshasha said that, so far, the number of cases of Palestinian refugees who have contracted the virus in Jordan and the West Bank is low, warning that the outbreak of the virus inside refugee camps is dangerous in light of the overcrowding and lack of adequate homebound quarantine conditions.

He noted that the UNRWA is in constant talks with authorities in the hosting countries: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. However, he stressed that the ongoing efforts require financial resources.

UNRWA is the oldest and biggest relief organization for Palestinian refugees. It was established in 1949 and it provides humanitarian aid to around 5.6 million Palestinian refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

Overall, the UNRWA runs 709 schools, providing primary education to some 530,000 students, and operates 144 clinics, in addition to its social aid and food programs in the region. Enditem

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