The EU has contributed €12 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of humanitarian health programmes in the Gaza strip. The Agency operates 22 primary healthcare centres across Gaza. UNRWA contributes to maintaining a healthy living environment for Palestine refugees in Gaza. The EU’s humanitarian contribution will enable UNWRA to sustain its vital health-care services (provision of medical supplies and covering the costs of hospital treatment Palestine refugees receive outside UNRWA health centres), especially given the increasing demand for health services due to mass demonstrations that have taken place along the security fence separating Israel from the Gaza Strip since March 30. The Agency provides primary health services to approximately 1.5 million Palestine refugees in Gaza. The EU is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees and adopted its leading role when the U.S. decided to stop its contributions to the organization. Over the past five decades, the EU has been a steadfast supporter to UNRWA in its five fields of operations (education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance).