DaysofPal- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning that millions of Palestinian refugees could lose access to essential services unless the agency secures substantial new funding.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said attempts to marginalize the agency are part of a broader effort to undermine the foundations of a future political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He highlighted that two years of intense conflict in Gaza have resulted in “severe human losses, urgent needs, and profound psychological trauma.”
UNRWA currently provides 40% of primary healthcare services in Gaza and educates over 340,000 children through formal schooling and online learning platforms.
Despite ongoing bombing, displacement, and a blockade, agency staff continue their work, even as UNRWA has suffered more than 380 fatalities among its personnel.
Lazzarini revealed that the agency faces a $200 million funding shortfall through the first quarter of 2026, despite cost-cutting measures that have saved $150 million this year. He warned that continued deficits could reduce both the scope and quality of services.
He stressed that supporting UNRWA is not only a humanitarian imperative but also “an investment in the future political process and a demonstration of genuine solidarity with all parties committed to lasting peace.”
Lazzarini urged member states to take concrete steps to secure full funding and clarify UNRWA’s role in a time-bound political process.
The agency has also faced a campaign of misleading claims from the Israeli occupation aimed at reducing international assistance, shutting down its operations, and halting aid to Gaza’s residents and children.
UNRWA has repeatedly requested evidence for the Israeli allegations, but none has been provided.
Founded in December 1949 under UN Resolution 302, UNRWA was established to provide relief and services to Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Nakba.
Since then, it has become a unique international institution serving refugees and their descendants across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.
UNRWA not only delivers essential education, health, and relief services but also embodies the collective rights of Palestinian refugees, including the right of return as enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of 1948.
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