UNRWA chief says Palestine refugee agency struggling to operate amid funding crisis

UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Thursday of growing concerns over the agency’s ability to operate due to a reduction in donations predicted for this year. 

UNWRA chief Philippe Lazzarini told the Associated Press that the agency plans to appeal for donations after Ramadan to address the financial crisis.

UNWRA was founded in 1948 to provide social services, education and jobs to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had been forcibly displaced by the creation of Israel. Today, their numbers are closer to 5.9 million; the majority of whom are residing in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West bank and neighbouring countries in the region. 

Lazzarini said: "if we are constantly struggling financially, we will become an unreliable partner for the host countries, the communities, for the refugees, but also for our 30,000 staff." 

Insightful discussion w/🇸🇦 Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs @KSAMOFA about regional development + how it could benefit #PalestineRefugees. @UNRWA looks forward to strengthen its historic partnership with 🇸🇦 as well as with GCC members @GCCSG pic.twitter.com/TiWIXwcp5b

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) April 4, 2023

He added that the operations have been impacted by the massive earthquake that devastated the region, which caused damage to Palestinian refugee camps in northern Syria and the provinces of Aleppo and Latakia. 

"I have to say that the population I met has been deeply, deeply traumatised and terrorised by the earthquake," Lazzarini said about refugee camps in north Syria that he visited in late March. According to UNRWA, at least 20 Palestinian refugees were killed in the quake.

Earlier this year, UNRWA launched an appeal for $1.6 billion. Around $850 million would be for the core budget of the organisation, and $750 million for an emergency appeal. 

In addition to the emergency appeal, a separate appeal for $16 million has been launched by UNWRA to assist those affected by the February earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, which resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 people, including over 6,000 in Syria.

📍 in Latakia camp, listening to the daily struggle of #PalestineRefugees confronting abject poverty & now lives and homes shattered by #Syriaearthquake. Committed to share their plight with international community #HearTheirVoices #UNRWAworks pic.twitter.com/L1W3h7hDGJ

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 29, 2023

Lazzarini said that the ongoing strikes for higher salaries by UNWRA employees in the occupied West Bank since March 4th have affected the work of the agency. The strikes have resulted in school closures, affecting 40,000 children as well as the closure of all health centres, according to Lazzarini.  

While acknowledging the staff's right to strike, the UNRWA chief expressed his hope for the action to end, claiming many staff members are willing to work.