UNRWA meets over global support amid financial crisis

AMMAN — The Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Tuesday concluded a two-day meeting in Jordan, where they discussed support for the agency, as it continues striving to meet the needs of Palestine refugees in the region, a UNRWA statement said. 

“It has been an extraordinarily difficult year for UNRWA and I am very encouraged by the first phase of mobilisation in response to our funding crisis," said UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl, stressing that "it is extremely important that, so far, we have protected the school year and other vital services". 

He voiced appreciation to UNRWA's partners, including donors who advanced their funding for the year, as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, which "have committed the lion’s share of additional support this year, sending a strong message to Palestine refugees and the wider international community”.

While progress is being made to address UNRWA’s needs in 2018, the Agency underlined the severity of the risks ahead, with more than $250 million in further support required to preserve UNRWA’s core and emergency assistance the second half of the year, the statement read. 

Krähenbühl said: “At stake is access to schooling for a generation of Palestine refugee youth; access to essential healthcare in and around 58 refugee camps; and emergency assistance to millions of insecure refugees in an unstable region.” 

In light of the upcoming pledging conference for UNRWA in New York on June 25, the commissioner-general insisted on the need to "respect the hope and dignity of Palestine refugees", and reiterated his urgent call for all partners "to stay on a successful collective path for the sake of the Palestine refugee community”. 

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty, the statement noted, pointing out that the Agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.