DaysofPal- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East UNRWA, announced on Sunday that it has scaled back its services to Palestinian refugees by 20% amid mounting political and economic restrictions by the Israeli occupation, warning that a deepening financial crisis is putting its core operations at risk.
Speaking to the press, UNRWA communications director Jonathan Fowler said UNRWA has been the target of coordinated smear campaigns aimed at discrediting its work and undermining its standing.
Fowler also highlighted the growing erosion of international legal norms, noting that violations are increasingly carried out without even attempts at justification.
He said that, unlike in the past when breaches of international law were often denied or downplayed, some actors now openly disregard such laws altogether.
He cited the seizure and demolition of UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem by Israeli occupation in January as a stark example, stressing that the agency’s premises are protected under international law and that East Jerusalem remains occupied territory.
Fowler further warned that UNRWA is grappling with a severe funding shortfall, largely due to its dependence on voluntary contributions, which leaves it exposed to shifting political dynamics.
The agency is currently facing an estimated $100 million deficit, forcing cuts across essential services, including education, healthcare, and sanitation.
He added that conditions on the ground have become increasingly perilous, particularly in Gaza, where approximately 400 UNRWA staff members have been killed in the Israeli attacks.
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