The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) continues to provide essential services to 5.9 million Palestine refugees despite facing an unprecedented $100 million budget shortfall. The agency, which operates primarily on voluntary donations since the late 1940s, delivers critical support in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including education and health services such as polio vaccinations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed serious concern over the funding gap, stating it “has grave implications for the entire region.” He described UNRWA as a “stabilising force in an age of instability,” highlighting its role in protecting vulnerable populations and countering hopelessness that can fuel insecurity.

The shortfall comes in the wake of the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, followed by Israeli strikes that devastated much of Gaza. These strikes displaced 80% of Gaza’s population and caused at least 70,000 deaths, according to local authorities. Since 2023, attacks on UNRWA have killed approximately 390 staff members and damaged UN property, including schools and hospitals. Early 2024 allegations of some agency staff complicity in attacks on Israel were independently investigated.

While many nations have resumed funding and private donations have increased, the United States has not yet unfrozen its contributions, leaving the $100 million gap unresolved. Member States annually pledge support, but inconsistencies between pledges and actual funding have forced UNRWA to reduce some mandated services.

Guterres condemned efforts to undermine UNRWA through diplomatic obstacles and smear campaigns, affirming that the agency has implemented over 40 recommendations from the 2024 independent Colonna report to improve accountability.

Christian Saunders, UNRWA’s acting Commissioner-General, noted that nearly 1.7 million people in Gaza still depend on the agency’s services amid a ceasefire that has lasted eight months, with UNRWA functioning similarly to a civil service.

Sources