In a pledging conference held at the United Nations, donor countries provided only $107 million in new funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This amount falls significantly short of the agency's $300 million requirement to sustain its vital assistance to millions of people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that UNRWA's precarious financial state poses a grave threat to the lives of millions of Palestine refugees who rely on its essential services.
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of UNRWA, expressed gratitude for the new pledges but stressed that they were insufficient to keep more than 700 schools and 140 clinics operational from September through December. He emphasized the agency's determination to work tirelessly with partners, including host countries, to raise the necessary funds.
At the start of the year, UNRWA launched an appeal for $1.6 billion to support its programs, operations, and emergency response across various regions, including Syria, Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and Jordan. This amount encompasses nearly $850 million for the agency's core budget, which encompasses running schools and health clinics.
While donors announced a total of $812.3 million in pledges during the conference, only $107.2 million constituted new contributions. The countries that pledged the new funds were not disclosed.
During a press conference, Lazzarini highlighted UNRWA's urgent need for $150 million to maintain all services until the end of the year and an additional $50 million to start 2024 without incurring liabilities. The agency also requires $75 million to sustain the food pipeline in Gaza and approximately $30 million for its cash distribution program in Syria and Lebanon.
Established in 1948 following the creation of Israel, UNRWA initially aimed to provide education, healthcare, social services, and employment opportunities to Palestinians who were displaced or fled from their homes. Today, with the inclusion of their descendants, the agency supports approximately 5.9 million people, primarily residing in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
UNRWA has faced financial challenges for the past decade, but Lazzarini labeled the current crisis as "massive" and the agency's main existential threat. He noted that the situation has worsened, especially with committed donors indicating significant decreases in their contributions.
The UN Secretary-General warned that the impact of UNRWA's uncertain future extends beyond the agency itself, affecting the lives of millions of Palestine refugees who rely on its services. These services include education for over half a million children, healthcare for approximately 2 million individuals, job opportunities for youth in Gaza and other areas, psycho-social support for hundreds of thousands of children, and a social safety net for nearly 500,000 of the most vulnerable Palestinians. Additionally, more than 1.2 million Palestinians receive humanitarian assistance through UNRWA.