UNRWA calls for urgent support in its “darkest hour”

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has called on UN General Assembly (UNGA) to save it, stating that the agency is in its “darkest hour”.

In a statement to the President of the UNGA, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini urged member states to prevent the implementation of the anti-UNRWA law passed by the Israeli parliament.

On October 29 the Israeli parliament voted to prohibit UNRWA’s operations within Israel and Palestinian territories.

Oman, in a Foreign Ministry statement, firmly rejected Israel's decision. The Sultanate praised UNRWA’s essential role in assisting and providing for more than two million Palestinian refugees and warned of the severe repercussions of sidelining the agency.

In his statement the UNRWA Commissioner General said  “Without intervention from member states, UNRWA will collapse, plunging millions of Palestinians into chaos.”

He added that the UN’s ability to deliver humanitarian aid in the occupied Palestinian territories heavily relies on UNRWA’s infrastructure.

In his detailed address he said, “UNRWA alone provides education to more than 650,000 girls and boys in Gaza. Without it, an entire generation will be deprived of their right to education.”

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.