Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

UNRWA seeks $1.6bn, warns it is in 'a danger zone'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jan 2023 22:19
3 Min Read

UNRWA chief calls on Arab countries to translate the words of solidarity that they often express with the Palestinians into actions.

  • x
  • Ashraf Amra \ apaimages
    A child standing in front of a UNRWA mural (APA)

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees appealed Tuesday for $1.6 billion for its work in 2023 and called for Arab countries especially to show more solidarity.

UNRWA -- which provides services to nearly six million Palestinians registered in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria -- warned that "compounding challenges" had placed it under "immense strain".

The agency, which counts nearly 30,000 staff -- most of them Palestinian refugees -- runs more than 700 schools that offer education to half a million children and provides health, sanitation, and social services, including food and cash assistance.

Out of the $1.6 billion requested, UNRWA indicated that $848 million was needed for such core services, adding that another $781.6 million was needed for emergency operations.

UNRWA warned that the needs have been skyrocketing as global crises, inflation, and disruptions in global supply chains have contributed to surging poverty and unemployment levels among Palestinians.

Resources over last 10 years stagnated

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini requested the appeal at a meeting with donors in Geneva, explaining that what the agency was asking for was really the minimum required.

"We can ask the double, but... the resources over the last 10 years have stagnated," Lazzarini told AFP, revealing that "there is a kind of glass ceiling, which shows that there hasn't been a readiness to go beyond this."

Related News

UN reports soaring malnutrition cases in Gaza amid Israeli blockade

UNRWA Chief: We cannot be partners in forced displacement in Gaza

He pointed to general donor fatigue at a time when multiple global crises are competing for attention and funds, explaining that "it is not very popular, politically, in donor countries to substantially increase support to UNRWA."

UNRWA has long faced chronic budget shortfalls, which worsened dramatically in 2018 when then-US President Donald Trump cut support to the agency and his administration deemed the agency "irredeemably flawed".

US President Joe Biden's administration has fully restored support, providing $340 million in 2022, making it the agency's largest donor. But UNRWA is still struggling. 

Large deficit of above $70 million

According to Lazzarini, the agency raised in 2022 less than $1.2 billion of the $1.6 billion it had appealed for.

"It is true that in 2022, we succeeded to keep all our services running for the Palestinian refugees," he said, noting that this "came at a cost, at a very high cost."

The agency chief highlighted that "for the fourth consecutive year, we are ending with a large deficit of above $70 million."

Lazzarini called especially on Arab countries to translate the solidarity they often express with the Palestinians "into tangible and substantial resources to UNRWA."

The UNRWA chief highlighted that in 2018, Arab countries represented 25% of the agency's budget, but their share had since shrunk to 3% in 2021 and 4% last year.

He underlined that UNRWA desperately needed "a more sustainable model of funding," adding that "we cannot and should not be always scrambling to bring in funds to cover our contribution to human rights and stability."

Lazzarini warned that UNRWA was in "a danger zone" and risked reaching "a tipping point" that "would most likely lead to the suspension of activities, which in such a volatile region ... is certainly not the best recipe." 

  • UNRWA
  • Palestine
  • Philippe Lazzarini

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS