The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that the collapse of the agency would spell disaster for a generation of Palestinian children, depriving them of education and potentially fostering greater extremism. Philippe Lazzarini expressed concern on Thursday about the agency’s critical financial situation, emphasizing the risk of a collapse that would have lasting consequences for those dependent on its services.
Lazzarini explained to AFP that the agency’s closure would lead to the loss of vital educational opportunities for children. “We would definitely sacrifice a generation of kids, who would be deprived of proper education,” he stated.
For over 70 years, UNRWA has been providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and emergency aid to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Lazzarini described the organization as a “lifeline” for nearly six million refugees in these regions.
However, UNRWA has faced significant criticism, especially from Israel, which intensified after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel in October 2023, leading to a devastating war in Gaza. Allegations that some UNRWA staff members were involved in the attack led several nations to temporarily halt funding for the already financially strained agency.
Earlier this year, Israel severed all ties with UNRWA, banning its operations on Israeli soil. While the agency can still operate in Gaza and the West Bank, it is barred from communicating with Israeli officials, complicating the delivery of aid in the region.
Israel argues that other UN agencies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could take over UNRWA’s role. While Lazzarini acknowledged that other organizations could deliver aid to Gaza, he emphasized that UNRWA’s role extends far beyond humanitarian assistance. “We are primarily providing government-like services,” he said. “I don’t see any NGO or UN agency suddenly stepping into the provision of public-like services.”
Lazzarini highlighted the critical importance of UNRWA’s education services, particularly in Gaza. He warned that depriving children of education would have dire long-term effects. “If you deprive 100,000 girls and boys in Gaza of an education, if they have no future, and if their school is just despair and living in rubble, we are just sowing the seeds for more extremism,” he said. “I think this is a recipe for disaster.”
As the agency struggles to maintain its operations amidst growing political and financial pressures, the consequences for Palestinian refugees, especially the youth, remain a serious concern.
