During his visit to Lebanon, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, conducted a tour on Tuesday to meet with Lebanese officials, presenting them with an overview of the agency’s “alarming” situation.
He outlined the financial challenges facing UNRWA in Lebanon and the region, particularly in light of Israel’s ongoing attempts to undermine its work, amid the war in Gaza and southern Lebanon, which has persisted for over eleven months.
Regarding the impact of the tension between Israel and Lebanon, Lazzarini warned the Lebanese officials that “we must always prepare for the worst, even though we all hope that the worst won’t happen, as the situation is already concerning, especially with the growing population displacement at the border.”
Lazzarini raised the alarm about UNRWA’s situation, noting that the agency is “facing constant attacks, calls for dismantling and pressures from the Israeli Knesset in this regard; and not a day passes without its facilities or staff being targeted.” He made these remarks during his first meeting on Tuesday morning with caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
Bou Habib emphasized the importance of UNRWA “continuing its mission and services, particularly in the education and health sectors, considering it an investment in securing a better future for Palestinian refugees.” “UNRWA’s absence would push refugees toward extremism and violence,” he added.
The same issues were discussed during Lazzarini’s morning meeting in Ain al-Tineh with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during which he warned of the impact of escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
“In Gaza, all efforts are focused on achieving a ceasefire, releasing hostages and optimizing the humanitarian aid we provide,” he stated.
Lazzarini and his delegation, including UNRWA’s Director of Affairs in Lebanon, Dorothee Klaus, and the head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Bassel al-Hassan, later visited the Grand Serail, where they were received by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.