LONDON: Japan has allocated $ 7 million to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, it was announced on Tuesday amid Israel’s continued bombardment and siege of Gaza.

The contribution will assist UNRWA to continue its emergency services, such as providing food and drinking water, to 85,000 internally displaced persons who have found shelter at the agency’s facilities across the city.

The number of IDPs in Gaza is estimated to be 1.2 million, including around 600,000 sheltering in 150 UNRWA facilities, all of whom are facing increasingly dire conditions.

The shelters are overcrowded, with a scarce supply of food, drinking water, and other necessities.

“This year, we commemorate 70 years of partnership between Japan and UNRWA. Japan’s long-term partnership is the evidence of its keenness to alleviate the suffering of those affected around the world, including Palestinian refugees,” Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs Nakashima Yoichi said.

“We hope that this assistance will contribute to alleviating the severity of the current situation and the suffering of the people in Gaza by meeting their basic needs,” he added.