Gaza City [Palestine]: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has issued a stark warning about the agency’s worsening financial crisis. He cautioned that the collapse of UNRWA could leave an entire generation of Palestinian children without access to education.
UNRWA Facing Financial Collapse
Lazzarini stated that UNRWA is at a “real risk of collapsing and imploding” due to severe financial shortfalls. If the agency ceases operations, it would directly impact nearly six million Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
Impact on Education
According to the UN agency, around 260,000 children have been relying on UNRWA’s distance learning program since January. Lazzarini emphasized that without this support, “we will certainly sacrifice a generation of children who will be deprived of a proper education.”
A Lifeline for Palestinian Refugees
UNRWA provides essential services, including education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, to Palestinian refugees. The Commissioner-General described it as a “lifeline” for those who depend on it for survival.
Urgent Call for Support
Lazzarini urged the international community to step in and provide the necessary funds to keep the agency operational. Without immediate financial aid, millions of Palestinian refugees could face worsening conditions, particularly in education and essential services.
