What the UNRWA Crisis Means for Palestinian Refugees Beyond Gaza – Reuters

By Emilie Madi and Suleiman Al-Khalidi

BEIRUT/AMMAN – The looming possibility of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) shutting down its services by the end of February is amplifying despair among refugee camps across the Middle East. This agency has long been a crucial support system for millions of people in the region.

The situation is also raising alarms among Arab nations hosting these refugees. Many of these countries lack the resources to fill the potential gap left by UNRWA’s exit and are concerned that its closure could lead to significant instability.

UNRWA, which provides essential services such as healthcare and education, has found itself in a crisis following Israel’s allegation that 12 of its 13,000 staff members in Gaza were involved in the October 7 attack led by Hamas. This has led to a suspension of funding from donors.

The agency is optimistic that funding will be resumed once a preliminary report addressing these allegations is released in the coming weeks.

For Palestinians, UNRWA is not only vital for essential services but also represents the preservation of their rights as refugees. Many hold onto the hope of returning to their homes, from which they or their forebearers were displaced during the 1948 conflict that accompanied Israel’s creation.

In the Burj al-Barajneh camp near Beirut, Raghida al-Arbaje shared her reliance on UNRWA for her children’s education and the medical bills of her child with an eye condition. "Without UNRWA, I can’t manage," said Arbaje, who noted that the agency also covered her late husband’s cancer treatment.

The camp, characterized by underdeveloped infrastructure and narrow alleys, relies significantly on UNRWA, including a program that offers $20 a day for labor — essential income for families barred from many job opportunities in Lebanon. Arbaje articulated the dire plight facing Palestinians in Lebanon, stating, "We are dead even as we live," while appealing to donors not to extinguish their hope.

UNRWA, established in 1949 to assist refugees, currently serves approximately 5.9 million Palestinians throughout the region. The agency has over half a million children enrolled in its schools and facilitates more than 7 million medical consultations each year.

The agency’s spokesperson emphasized the crucial role UNRWA plays in safeguarding the rights of Palestinian refugees, stating that allegations against the implicated staff members, if true, would betray the U.N.’s values and the communities it serves.

The October attack resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of another 240 individuals, as reported by Israeli sources. In retaliation, an Israeli military response has led to over 27,000 deaths in Gaza, according to health officials in the region.

Israel has called for UNRWA’s closure, arguing that it perpetuates the Palestinian refugee issue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of replacing UNRWA with other U.N. and aid agencies to effectively address the situation in Gaza.

In Jordan, Palestinians have organized protests against the proposed closure of UNRWA, proudly displaying messages like "Yes to the right of return" at a demonstration in Amman. Refugee Hilmi Aqel, from the Baqa’a camp, underscored the significance of the UNRWA ration card, stating it validates their status and rights.

Arab states have consistently advocated for the Palestinians’ right of return and have resisted suggestions to resettle refugees in countries to which they fled in 1948. In Lebanon, which hosts around 250,000 Palestinian refugees, concerns persist regarding the implications of this demographic on the country’s sectarian balance.

Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar criticized donor nations’ decisions to halt aid, labeling them unfair and politically motivated, warning that the fallout would be "catastrophic" for Palestinians. He remarked that failing to support these communities could push them toward extremism.

In Jordan, the crisis surrounding UNRWA evokes long-standing anxieties with regards to the approximately 2 million registered Palestinian refugees living there, many of whom possess Jordanian citizenship. Officials fear that dismantling UNRWA could diminish their right to return, shifting the burden onto Jordan itself.

Despite the funding crisis, Norway has maintained its contributions and expressed optimism that some paused funding could resume as awareness grows regarding the untenable nature of the situation.

The United States, however, has stated that it will only consider resuming funding to UNRWA after the agency implements "fundamental changes."

Moussa Brahim Dirawi, a refugee in Burj al-Barajneh, voiced concerns for Palestinian children if UNRWA schools were to close. He cautioned, "This would deprive an entire generation of education. If children are left out of school, they will end up on the streets. What will the streets teach them?"