Despite major fundraising efforts, UNRWA – the UN agency
tasked with providing life-saving support to Palestinian refugees
– is facing the “largest ever reduction in funding” in its
history which is threatening the very existence of many of its
critical assistance programmes.
“As we continue to pursue every avenue of support to overcome a
severe financial crisis, UNRWA, its dedicated staff, and the
refugees have only one option: to face up to this situation
together and preserve the most important work we do,” said UNRWA
Spokesperson Chris Gunness on Wednesday in a press statement.
Following the United States decision to cut back its funding for
UNRWA this year by US$300 million dollars, the agency worked to
mobilise political and financial support around the globe in
order to maintain its operations and continue providing essential
services to its beneficiaries.
The agency’s emergency assistance programmes are currently
critically under-funded in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
said Mr. Gunness. In the West Bank owing to a lack of funding,
UNRWA will discontinue its cash-for-work activities at the end of
July, he added, and limit the provision of assistance only to the
most vulnerable.
“We are still in crisis. Let no one claim otherwise”, stressed
Mr. Gunness. “But we are also determined to maintain core
services to the millions of Palestine refugees who rely on us in
Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Syria,
and preserve what we can of our emergency assistance.”
A $90 million respite
To address the increasingly “alarming” economic situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, the World Bank’s Board
recommended on Wednesday that US$90 million be allocated to
support economic recovery and job opportunities for Palestinians
in Gaza and the West Bank, representing a major increase from its
yearly allocation of $55 million.
“This significant increase in funding comes at a critical time
when urgent interventions are required to prevent renewed
conflict and to boost Palestinian economic opportunities and
livelihoods”, said Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process. “It is particularly vital for Gaza
which is on the verge of a total economic and social collapse”,
he added.
According to the World Bank, about 30 per cent of Palestinians
overall are unemployed. The situation is even more dire in Gaza,
where half of the population is jobless and where restrictions on
trade and resources are leading to a continuing decline in
productivity.
“Our assistance intends to provide hope and prospects for
Palestinians, especially the youth, and to break the vicious
cycle of unemployment, poverty, and
instability,” said Marina Wes, World Bank
Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza.
The new injection of funds, which will be used in partnership
with the Palestinian Authority, will be handed over in the form
of grants from its dedicated trust fund in the region.
A new grant to fund an emergency cash-for-work programme, will
provide training and work experience to youth and women with
university degrees – 60 per cent of whom are unemployed – to
provide social services for the most vulnerable. The funds will
also support infrastructure rehabilitation, including solid waste
recycling, as well as making water supplies more secure, and
renewable energy provision.
