The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing an “existential” budget crisis and is appealing for urgent funding of $100 million to keep essential education, healthcare, and other services running this year
UNRWA’s Chief Philippe Lazzarini announced that the organization is seeking $800 million at a donor conference scheduled for November in Brussels to fund its three core activities: education, health, and social services
Lazzarini stressed that the funds would allow the agency to keep open the 700 or so schools it managed and health centers and provide social welfare to Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
Lazzarini, who took office in April, explained that in addition to the $800 million required, there is a need for funding for humanitarian aid provided by UNRWA in Gaza and Syria.
This varies from one year to the next, depending on the crisis, but the agency estimates will be about $500,000 in 2022.
The funding is required to ensure the agency’s ability to keep 550,000 children in school, provide health care for thousands and pay the salaries of its 28,000 staff in November and December.
UNRWA has been suffering continuously for years from financial crises due to the decline in aid after the United States suspended its contribution during the era of former US President Donald Trump before the current administration signed a framework agreement to restore support.
The Palestinian factions said that the agreement contradicts the mandate granted by the UN to the agency and international law, as it turns the agency into a political and security tool in the hands of the US.
Israel has also criticized UNRWA’s training of local teachers as well as the content of textbooks.
Lazzarini asserted that the criteria for selecting teachers and textbooks belong to the host countries. UNRWA assists more than 5 million registered Palestinian refugees.
