The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) appealed on Tuesday for $1.6 billion to fund core
operations this year, as the people it helps face
hitting “rock bottom”.
Head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, told journalists in Geneva
that competing global crises, and skyrocketing levels of poverty
and unemployment among Palestine refugees, have put immense
strain on them - and the agency - which started the year some $70
million in arrears.
“On the one hand we are asked to deliver public-like services to
one of the most under-privileged communities in the region. We
obviously are a UN agency (and) abide by UN values, but in
reality, we are funded like an NGO, meaning that we depend on
voluntary funding from Member States.”
Most Palestine refugees now live below the poverty-line and many
depend on humanitarian assistance, including cash and food, from
UNRWA.
Eyewitness
“I thought that they had reached rock bottom some time ago, but I
discover each time that this misery people are confronted with is
getting worse and worse,” the UNRWA Commissioner-General said, of
his recent visit to meet Palestinian refugees in Syria. “I
witnessed first-hand indescribable suffering and despair.”
The desperate situation of Syria’s Palestine refugees is mirrored
in Gaza and Lebanon - where more than nine in 10 live below the
poverty-line - and in Gaza. “Many told me that all they asked for
was a life of dignity, that’s not much to ask for,” the
Commissioner-General explained.
Totally dependent
“We have seen increased poverty in the Palestinian refugee camps
in Lebanon …there has been a stiff increase compared to previous
assessments, which means again, we are the only lifeline for this
community. The same happened in Gaza; in Gaza, we have more than
one million people who are also dependent on our food
assistance.”
Highlighting the vast scope of UNRWA’s work, Mr. Lazzarini
explained that the agency provided services, much as a small
government would. “We act in reality as a Minister of Education,
a Minister of Primary Health, a Minister of Municipalities, a
Ministry of Social Services for this extraordinarily vulnerable
group of Palestinian refugees,” he said.
“We are also providing emergency humanitarian assistance and
hence my appeal this morning for a total of $1.6 billion.”
In response to a renewed escalation of violence, a Palestine
refugee family find refuge at the UNRWA Beit Lahiya Preparatory
Girls’ School in northern Gaza.
Austerity package
Amid chronic funding shortfalls, UNRWA has expanded e-health
access and telemedicine and launched a digital learning platform.
“In the last three years, we had a ‘zero growth’ budget, which
stayed at the same level,” Mr. Lazzarini said.
“Obviously, it didn’t meet all our needs, and that forced the
agency to put in place austerity measures. And austerity comes at
a cost; today, for instance, we regularly have up to 50 children
per teacher attending class.”
Similarly tough conditions apply in healthcare provided by UNRWA,
which provided seven million medical consultations in 2022. “On
average, the doctor spent no more than three minutes with each
patient, so it’s a bit quick, too,” the Commissioner-General
said.
UNRWA’s 2023 appeal for $1.6 billion includes $848 million for
core services including health, education, relief, social
services and protection. Another $781.6 million is required for
emergency operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
