UNRWA Commissioner-General warns of humanitarian disaster in Gaza amid calls to dismantle UNRWA

BEIRUT — In a letter addressed to the President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, expressed "deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the severe threats to UNRWA."

In just over four months in #Gaza, there have been more #children, more journalists, more medical personnel, and more @UN staff killed than anywhere in the world during a conflict.

It is with profound regret that I must now inform you that @UNRWA has reached a breaking point,… pic.twitter.com/JbQVk72avu

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) February 22, 2024

The letter highlighted the challenges faced by UNRWA, including "repeated calls from Israel to dismantle the agency and the freezing of funding by donors, which has reached a critical point." The commissioner-general warned that UNRWA's ability to fulfill its mandate, as established by General Assembly Resolution 302, is seriously jeopardized.

Lazzarini provided, in the letter, an overview of the situation in Gaza, "where more children, journalists, medical personnel, and UN staff have been killed in the past four months than in any other conflict zone worldwide. Over 150 UNRWA premises have been targeted, causing numerous casualties, and the last remaining hospitals are on the brink of collapse." 

Lazzarini refuted allegations launched by Israel, which claim UNRWA staff members were involved in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack. Despite dismissing the implicated staff and launching internal reviews, 16 donor countries announced a pause or suspension of their contributions to UNRWA, totaling US $450 million, pending reassurances on the agency's response and oversight mechanisms.

The letter detailed a series of actions taken by Israeli authorities against UNRWA, including demands for evacuation, "threats of eviction, visa limitations for international staff, and financial obstructions." These actions, coupled with statements conflating UNRWA with Hamas, are seen as deliberate efforts to disrupt the agency's operations and undermine its mandate, according to Lazzarini.

Lazzarini warned that dismantling UNRWA would have "catastrophic consequences, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, depriving over half a million children of education," and impeding a political solution to the long-standing conflict. Calls for UNRWA's closure are viewed as attempts to alter political parameters set by the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The commissioner-general appealed to the General Assembly to make a crucial decision on sustaining UNRWA, emphasizing the agency's role in protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees and acting as a witness to their plight. Urging a return to human rights and international law at the center of multilateral action, the commissioner-general called for political support to sustain UNRWA or create the basis for a transition to a long-overdue political solution.

The letter concluded with a plea for the General Assembly to address the funding structure of UNRWA, ensuring a more stable financial foundation that is less vulnerable to political considerations.