Due to a shortage of funds, UNRWA’s operations in Lebanon may come to a halt by March.
“The agency will no longer have funding as of the end of February, so that means our operations would come to a halt during March,” said Dorothee Klaus, UNRWA Director in Lebanon, describing the “severe impact” of fresh budget cuts.
The funding issue resulted from Israel’s accusations that twelve agency employees were implicated in the 7 October assaults, resulting in 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 250 individuals being held captive. These events were the catalyst for the continuing and destructive conflict in Gaza.
Many important contributors, including the United States and Germany, have stopped providing funds to the agency until the UN completes its investigation into the issue.
UNRWA has a workforce of 30,000 individuals who provide services to approximately six million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
A doctor from UNRWA is conducting an examination on a child who is a Palestinian refugee at the health center in the Beddawi camp located in Lebanon. (file)
No one is able to assume control.
In the northern region of Israel, UNRWA provides services similar to those of a government in Lebanon. These services include education, healthcare, and garbage collection for around 250,000 Palestinians living in refugee camps. There are currently over 100,000 Palestinians residing in these camps.
“According to Ms. Klaus, there is no one qualified to assume these responsibilities.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employs approximately 3,500 workers in Lebanon. These employees also support the incomes of roughly 10 to 15 percent of the Palestinian refugee community, who depend on UNRWA’s investments in the country. This amounts to an average of $180 million annually.
The United Nations agency offers financial aid to 65 percent of Palestine refugees, resulting in a decrease in poverty from a shocking 93 percent to the current rate of 80 percent.
Around 200,000 Palestinian refugees each year seek medical care at agency health centers for a variety of needs, including basic medication, immunizations for children, and treatment for pregnant and lactating women and those with non-communicable and chronic illnesses.
There is nowhere else for them to go.
According to the speaker, due to the high poverty rates among Palestine refugees, they would likely have to delay hospitalization because they cannot afford the expenses. This applies to 600 cancer patients who rely on co-funding from UNWRA.
The organization has observed a rise in the death rate among cancer patients who cannot afford necessary medication. As a result, they made the choice last year to raise the co-funding percentage for UNWRA in regards to this issue, according to her statement.
According to Ms. Klaus, they have nowhere else to turn.
Lacking financial resources, everything would crumble.
According to her, if schools shut down, approximately 38,000 students in grades one to 12 would be unable to continue their education.
The Lebanese Government is unable to undertake this task, as stated by the speaker. She stressed that their classrooms are already full and cannot accommodate additional students, as they are currently being used to educate Syrian refugees in the afternoons.
“She stated that without funding, everything would cease to exist. There is no other organization that has the necessary resources and ability to take over, as UNRWA functions similarly to government services and has the proper infrastructure in place.”
As the war continues, an emergency plan has been put in place.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza and the increasing tensions at Lebanon’s southern border, UNRWA has continued to provide all of its essential services.
“We have implemented a backup plan. 12 of our schools are ready to accommodate displaced individuals who have nowhere else to turn. We have also organized for food and medical supplies to be pre-positioned,” stated the speaker.
The organization has additionally given extended-term patients with a two-month supply in advance.
Difficult decisions ahead
Operational centres were established across the country to be able to continue providing services under all circumstances, in parallel with operations over the past months.
According to her, it will be challenging to prioritize needs due to budget reductions.
She stated that considering what is more important than something else would make decision making very challenging.
We face several difficult choices: Should we continue schooling for the children or risk 600 cancer patients dying? Should we shut down health centers that provide immunizations for newborns? Should we stop collecting garbage?
She stated that all of this is essential.
Source: news.un.org
