Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), announced on Friday that the agency has enough funds to continue operations until September. Lazzarini stated, “We have worked tirelessly with partners to restore trust in the agency,” following the suspension of funding by several countries after Israeli allegations in January that some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He noted that new funding pledges would help ensure emergency operations until September.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to donors on Friday to fund UNRWA, mentioning that there is no alternative despite Israeli criticisms. Guterres warned at a donor conference that Palestinians suffering would lose a “vital lifeline” without UNRWA, stating, “Let me be clear, there is no alternative to UNRWA.”
He added, “Just when we thought things couldn’t get worse in Gaza (…) civilians are being horrifically pushed into deeper circles of hell.” According to Guterres, 195 UNRWA employees have been killed in the war, marking the highest death toll of staff in United Nations history. The US Congress has blocked further funding for UNRWA. Instead, the Biden administration has entrusted other bodies to aid Palestinian civilians, acknowledging that UNRWA is the most capable of distributing aid, according to Agence France-Presse.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7, UNRWA has been pivotal in addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis. The agency has been actively involved in providing essential services such as food, water, and psychosocial support to displaced Palestinians.
UNRWA has distributed significant amounts of flour and high-energy biscuits to families across the Gaza Strip, which has been critical in addressing food security amid the conflict. The agency operates water wells and coordinates potable water trucking to several areas, ensuring that displaced populations have access to safe drinking water despite the dire circumstances.
The psychosocial support provided by UNRWA has been a crucial component of its response. With the support of hundreds of counselors, the agency has managed to deliver a range of services including psychosocial first aid, group counseling, and activities aimed at managing fatigue and trauma, especially for children and youth. These efforts are vital in helping the affected communities cope with the stress and trauma caused by the ongoing conflict
