UNRWA Chief Warns Services For Palestinian Refugees Threatened Amid Funding Cuts

Head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - The head of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Thursday that severe funding shortages threaten critical services for millions of people across the region.

"Unlike previous years, revenue projections in the first quarter of 2026 were too low to absorb a large deficit from 2025," Philippe Lazzarini told UN General Assembly Fourth Committee in New York.

"Without a significant flow of new funds, the provision of essential services for millions of Palestinian refugees throughout the region will be disrupted," he said.

Lazzarini further said the agency faces a shortage of about $200 million between the end of 2025 and early 2026, and "may not be possible to maintain UNRWA's operations on its coverage and quality at this time."

Lazzarini noted that UNRWA provides 40 percent of all primary health services in the Gaza Strip and educates hundreds of thousands of children. The agency "vitals to the survival of millions of Palestinians," he said.

The reduction in operations will have "serious consequences" for regional stability, particularly in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, according to Lazzarini.

The UN agency has faced severe financial difficulties since Israel launched a defamation campaign against UNRWA, claiming its staff were involved in the October 7 attack.

Although UNRWA has asked the Israeli government to provide information and evidence supporting the allegations, no response has been received, according to the agency.

Israel's allegations prompted several major donor countries, including the US, to suspend or discontinue funding.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference following a committee meeting, Lazzarini responded to Anadolu's question about the future of UNRWA and areas that may face closures if new funding does not materialize.

Explaining the agency didn't decide on closure, Lazzarini said: "If we are in a situation where we don't have the resources anymore, we may have to go back to the General Assembly and ask: 'What do you want us to prioritize?'"

"I am still confident that what the agency has asked for and the shortcomings we face can be overcome," he stressed, urging UN member states not only to "enforce the mandate update, but to ensure that it is accompanied by sincere support, commitment, and resources to ensure that the agency is in a position to fulfill the mandate."

When asked about the decision of the International Court (ICJ) on Israel's obligation to lift restrictions on the agency's work and mechanisms to ensure compliance, the UNRWA chief explained that the ICJ adviser's opinion is non-binding but will serve as a legal reference for many countries.

"I don't expect the Israeli state to suddenly say, 'We will comply with the ICJ's advisory opinion decision,'" he said, adding the ruling would "be a norm in many countries" and ensuring UNRWA remains part of the United Nations.