UNRWA Indispensable For Palestine Refugees Pending Political Resolution, Says Chief

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) emphasised the agency's crucial role in Gaza's humanitarian response. During a meeting in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated, "UNRWA was created 75 years ago as a temporary agency. A stop-gap measure, pending a political answer to the question of Palestine. The Agency exists today because a political solution does not. It exists in lieu of a State that can deliver critical public services."

Lazzarini highlighted that UNRWA has been pivotal in human development for Palestine Refugees since its inception. He noted, "UNRWA has been a driver of human development for Palestine Refugees since its creation. It has upheld the rights to education and health, while providing protection and assistance, in the absence of a full-fledged State. By doing so, the Agency has been a force for stability across the region and a beacon of hope for Palestinians. Today, however, UNRWA is staggering under the weight of relentless attacks. In Gaza, the Agency has paid a terrible price. 193 UNRWA personnel have been killed."

Among Gaza’s most vulnerable are children, who suffer greatly from the ongoing conflict. Lazzarini explained that over 625,000 children are "deeply traumatised" and living in dire conditions without access to education. He added, "Some 300,000 of them were enrolled in nearly 290 UNRWA schools before the war" but those who are now out of school "are at risk of violence and exploitation, child labour, early marriage, and recruitment by armed groups."

In his closing remarks, Lazzarini made three requests to safeguard UNRWA’s future role and effectiveness. He urged members to protect UNRWA’s critical role during transitions and warned against dismantling it prematurely. He said, "First, I urge you to safeguard UNRWA’s critical role both now and within the framework of a transition. The notion that the Agency can be dismantled without triggering the collapse of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and causing chaos in its fields of operation is naïve at best."

Lazzarini stressed the importance of enhancing service delivery through strong partnerships. He stated that these partnerships should build on mutual strengths and support UNRWA’s mandate rather than undermine it. He said, "Second, we must scale up and enhance our service delivery to Palestine Refugees. For this, we must cultivate and maintain strong partnerships. These partnerships must build on our respective strengths, and complement UNRWA’s mandate, not undermine it."

He also called for adequate funding from Member States to meet overwhelming needs. He emphasised that efforts must be matched by predictable and flexible funding to ensure effective service delivery.

Implementing Recommendations

The Commissioner-General sought support for implementing recommendations from the Colonna Report to uphold neutrality crucial for UNRWA's survival. He said, "Third, I seek your support as donors and hosts in implementing the recommendations of the Colonna Report. Upholding neutrality is indispensable for the survival of this Agency and the continuity of its vital work."

Lazzarini concluded by highlighting the increased pressures on UNRWA due to regional changes. He warned that maintaining the status quo would lead to the agency's collapse and severe consequences for millions of vulnerable individuals.

He concluded with a stark warning: "The region and the world have changed drastically since we last met. The pressures on the agency today are greater than ever before. If the status quo is maintained, the Agency will crumble and millions of vulnerable children, women and men will pay a heavy price."

With inputs from WAM