The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is on the brink of a funding crisis with no backup plan beyond March, warned the head of its Lebanon office in an interview with Thomson Reuters. Dorothee Klaus, the Lebanon chief, emphasized, “We do not have a plan B.”
Israel’s accusations against 12 UNRWA employees in Gaza, alleged to have participated in last year’s Hamas-led assault, have led to suspensions of funding from 16 countries. Klaus stated, “This will be the first indicator to the community that UNRWA is cash-strapped, and this would be the first service that we will not be able to provide in quarter one.”
UNRWA manages essential services in Lebanon’s 12 refugee camps, such as healthcare, education and waste collection. Klaus highlighted the urgency, saying, “If funding dries up, within a couple of days there would be trash filling camp streets.”
The situation raises concerns about the broader humanitarian impact on Palestinian refugees, with Klaus noting, “While UNRWA has faced cash crunches before, the collective suspension has prompted an unprecedented crisis.”
Klaus also addressed Israel’s allegations, mentioning a separate review process by UNRWA to examine safeguards protecting its neutrality and independence. She stated, “We hope that as many donors as possible indicate to the agency that they are reconsidering the funding freeze and that funding will be restored to the agency.”
