The UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly that the agency remains essential for stability and rebuilding efforts in the Gaza Strip and the wider region. He stressed that a damaging disinformation campaign has weakened UNRWA’s reputation and funding, warning that reducing or ending its services would severely undermine recovery efforts and jeopardize any political progress in Gaza.
Lazzarini highlighted the agency’s long-standing role since 1950 in delivering education, healthcare, protection, and humanitarian aid to Palestine refugees across the region. In 2024 alone, UNRWA provided emergency food to nearly two million people in Gaza and delivered a significant share of primary healthcare and education. He underscored that without stable learning environments, children traumatized by conflict may be at heightened risk of exploitation or radicalization.
The agency is currently facing intense funding pressures following allegations regarding staff conduct and the suspension of financial support from major donors, including the United States. Members of the working group on Palestine warned that UNRWA’s financial collapse would threaten regional stability and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Palestinian representatives reiterated that UNRWA is irreplaceable and called on all countries to maintain strong and principled support for the agency during this critical time.
