UNRWA chief warns of operational ‘collapse’ due to Israeli laws

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has warned of the collapse of UNRWA due to the Israeli Knesset laws banning its operations, and the suspension of funding by major donors, the Wafa news agency reported.

Lazzarini said the agency’s collapse would create a dangerous vacuum in the provision of basic services, which would create “fertile ground for exploitation and extremism”, which constitutes a threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

He added that UNRWA faces major operational challenges after the Knesset decisions came into effect, as it was forced to evacuate its headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, while its international employees were expelled from the occupied West Bank.

He pointed out that the courage and commitment of the agency’s Palestinian employees kept UNRWA schools and health clinics open to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees.

Lazzarini explained that UNRWA operations in the Gaza Strip continue through its local and international staff, whose entry into or exit from Palestine is no longer facilitated by Israel.

“It is unclear to what extent our ability to operate will be further restricted by the ban on contact between UNRWA representatives and Israeli officials, but the Agency will remain and will continue to implement its mandate until it is prevented from doing so,” he added.

The UNRWA commissioner-general said UNRWA continues to play a crucial role in addressing the enormous needs of the people of the Gaza Strip, stressing that reducing its operations now is futile and would sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition plans.

“Time is running out to preserve UNRWA operations, and decisive intervention is urgently required.”

Lazzarini stressed that there is no alternative that can provide public services to Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories, and stressed the importance of allowing UNRWA to gradually end its mandate within the framework of a political process such as the two-state solution, and transferring responsibilities to capable and prepared Palestinian institutions.

He stressed that the success of these efforts depend entirely on the strength of the international community’s commitment to the political track, which must be supported by funding to maintain the agency’s operations until the completion of the transfer of its services to Palestinian institutions.

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