UNRWA Warns of Impending Crisis as Funding Cuts Threaten Vital Aid in Gaza and Beyond
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a warning about an impending crisis as funding cuts jeopardize vital aid in Gaza and other regions. The agency has revealed that essential supplies of fuel and bread flour for Gaza are at risk of running out, while schools, clinics, and even rubbish collections in the West Bank and three other countries in the Middle East could cease operations by the end of the month if funding is not restored.
Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have recently paused their funding for UNRWA after allegations that 12 of its staff members participated in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. In response to these funding suspensions, UNRWA has warned that its operations throughout the Middle East, not just in Gaza, are likely to be forced to shut down by the end of February.
In Gaza, where the UN has already issued warnings about an imminent famine affecting 2 million people, UNRWA plays a crucial role in delivering flour for bread production, fuel for desalination plants, and coordinating aid through its network of warehouses and lorries. UNRWA-run schools have also been transformed into shelters for tens of thousands of people.
Furthermore, UNRWA operates hundreds of schools in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. If the agency is unable to continue its operations, an estimated 500,000 children would be left without access to education. The situation in Palestinian refugee camps across the West Bank and Lebanon could also deteriorate into instability if UNRWA is no longer able to provide services to them.
Juliette Touma, the director of communications for UNRWA, emphasized the far-reaching impact of the funding cuts, stating that it would be most acute in Gaza. She highlighted the agency’s role as the largest humanitarian player in the region and expressed concern about the people of Gaza surviving without UNRWA’s assistance.
The potential shutdown of UNRWA would not only affect its own operations but also have a ripple effect on other aid agencies in Gaza that rely on its coordination. Touma explained that organizations like UNICEF, which brings in children’s vaccines, depend on UNRWA nurses to administer them.
The funding suspensions were initiated by 16 donor states following the Hamas allegations. The United States, Germany, and Sweden, which together contributed $607 million in 2022, were among the countries that suspended their funding. Other donor entities, including the European Union, have stated that they will make a decision about future funding after the results of a UN investigation into the allegations are released. UNRWA estimates that the suspensions have already cost it at least $440 million.
While UNRWA has faced financial shortfalls in the past, particularly when the Trump administration cut its support in 2018, it has rarely encountered a funding gap of this magnitude. Israeli authorities have long called for the dismantling of the agency, arguing that its mission is obsolete and fosters anti-Israeli sentiment. However, UNRWA has vehemently denied these claims.
For many Palestinians, UNRWA’s presence in the Middle East serves as a constant reminder of their displacement during the creation of Israel in 1948. Maha Husseini, a humanitarian with EuroMed for Human Rights, emphasized that UNRWA is not just an aid agency but also part of their cause. She stressed the importance of UNRWA’s support during this critical time for Palestinians.
Touma emphasized that now is not the time to change how aid is delivered to Gaza, as it is a matter of life and death. The clock is ticking, and urgent action is needed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has held a closed-door meeting with 35 donor nations to encourage them to reconsider their funding suspensions and seek new financial support for UNRWA.
However, the process of internal investigation at the UN is expected to be lengthy, and the delay in receiving a formal submission of the dossier from Israel detailing the claims against the 12 UNRWA employees could further prolong the reassurance donors are seeking. This, in turn, increases the risk to UNRWA’s operations.
Joost Hiltermann, Middle East program director for the International Crisis Group, warned that a sudden shutdown of UNRWA could spark protests in countries like Lebanon and Jordan. In the West Bank, protests could escalate into deadly clashes with Israeli or Palestinian Authority security forces. The discontinuation of UNRWA’s services would undoubtedly lead to major instability in the region.
The situation is dire, and urgent action is needed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The fate of millions of Palestinians hangs in the balance as funding cuts threaten their access to vital aid. The international community must come together to ensure that UNRWA can continue its operations and