Speaking at a pledging conference for the agency, the UN chief outlined the myriad challenges facing Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which “forced to move like human pinball machines through a landscape of destruction and death“.
“Hopelessness is the greatest ally of instability,” he said warnedemphasizing that through his work, “UNRWA is one of the most important factors that provides hope and stability in a troubled region.”
The agency is support of critical services including education, health care and social services for approximately 5.9 million refugees from Palestine, including vulnerable groups such as women, children and persons with disabilities.
It also manages 58 refugee campswhich responds to the urgent humanitarian needs of over 1.6 million people in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The annual donor conference, held under the auspices of the General Assembly, provides an important platform for raising funds for these activities.
This year is different
This year, however, the conference will take place under very different circumstances.
Gaza has become a place of immense suffering, amid daily military bombardments in a conflict triggered by the Terrorist attack on October 7 by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. Dozens of them remain in captivity, presumably in Gaza.
In the Gaza Strip, more than 38,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, another 88,000 injured, and around 90 percent of the population displaced – often multiple times.
Tensions are also boiling over in the West Bankand there is a growing fear of a spillover of the war to Lebanon while Israeli troops exchange fire with Hezbollah militants on a daily basis.
As humanitarian needs in the enclave increase dramatically, UNRWA is also facing a severe funding crisis, with many donors cutting off funding after accusations Israel has said that some of the agency’s personnel were involved in the October 7 attacks.
In the absence of clear evidence, many donor countries resumed their contributions after the UN responded.
Of the 12 people involved, the agency terminated the contracts of 10, another two are dead. An investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was also conducted. launched immediately and is still going on.
Separately, and prior to the allegations, the Secretary-General appointed former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna will lead an independent investigation to assess UNRWA’s commitment to the humanitarian principle of neutrality.
She has submitted her final report in April with important recommendations, which are being implemented.
However, UNRWA is facing huge shortfalls in matching resources to needs and needs $1.2 billion to cover the shortfall. critical humanitarian needs until the end of the year.
There is no alternative
The UN chief warned that without increased support and funding for UNRWA, Palestinian refugees “will lose a vital lifeline and the last glimmer of hope for a better future.”
“My call to everyone is this: protect UNRWA, protect UNRWA staff and protect UNRWA’s mandate – also through funding. Let me be clear: there is no alternative to UNRWA,” he stressed.
Mr Guterres reiterated the need to end the ongoing war, starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
“Finally, only a political solution can end this conflict – a vision that becomes a reality of two states – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states,” he said.
“I urge you to take action now: take action to inspire hope in a place where it is scarce; take action to uphold the mandate of this General Assembly to support UNRWA; take action in solidarity with the refugees from Palestine and the entire Palestinian people,” the UN chief concluded.
Question of survival
Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, joined the Secretary-General’s call for support and urged donors to “turn rhetoric into reality” by ensuring the agency receives adequate funding.
He insisted All stakeholders – UN Member States, but also philanthropic organizations, the private sector and individuals – contribute to the agency.
“This is not just about funding, nor is it about the survival of an agency. It is about people and the survival of Palestinian refugees – especially children – in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.,” he said.
© UNRWA
Nearly 190 UNRWA facilities, many of which house displaced people, have been damaged or destroyed in the conflict. Pictured here are the remains of a UNRWA school.
Suffering everywhere
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized the immense suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. He reiterated his condemnation of the October 7 attack and called for the immediate release of all hostages.
Gaza has been “decimated,” he said, with more than two million people living in dire conditions.
Children and women are particularly affected, with many children killed or seriously injured. He highlighted a similar tragedy unfolding in the West Bank, with hundreds of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers.
Targeted because UNRWA protects
Mr Lazzarini also stressed that despite decades of providing stability and essential services, UNRWA continues to face persistent attacks, resulting in significant loss of life and damage to its facilities.
He also condemned the mistreatment of UNRWA staff and the use of its facilities for military purposes by both Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces.and criticized attempts to dismantle UNRWA, including attacks on social media and legislative moves to designate the organization as a terrorist organization.
“UNRWA is a target,” he stressed, “because of its role in protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees, and because it embodies an international commitment to a political solution.”
He warned that if left unopposed, other UN agencies and international organisations would be at risk of similar attacks.
UNRWA is the backbone
The UNRWA Commissioner-General reiterated that the agency is “the backbone” of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and that it will remain crucial to the transition from a ceasefire to “the day after”, by providing essential services.
“If we maintain the status quo, the agency will collapse and millions of children, women and men will pay a high price,” he concluded.
Strong message of solidarity
During a press conference later in the day (► video), Mr Lazzarini stressed the “powerful message of solidarity and support” which the agency had received at the donor conference.
“The day started with the stake (pronounced) by 118 Member States, this was reiterated at the Conference,” he said, adding that the commitments announced by Member States would sustain UNRWA’s core budget until the end of September.
“The agency now has sufficient resources to operate until the end of September…this basically means that I will be focusing on bridging the financial gap between September and the end of December for the next few months.”
He added that he remains concerned about the situation of UNRWA. $1.2 Billion Emergency Appeal for the ongoing crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory and the separate $416 million appeal for the regional crisis, “remain severely underfunded.”
from UNRWA core program budget goes directly to helping more than 5.6 million Palestinian refugees it is mandated to protect and assist. Under this mandate, it provides essential services in the areas of education, health, protection, emergency and social services, microfinance and camp improvement.
The emergency appeals are aimed at responding to the crisis with crucial humanitarian and life-saving interventions.
