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
Pope Leo XIV: Peacemakers do not flee, but dare to stay even if it costs them some sacrifice.
The Pope to the Lebanese: You are a diverse country and a community made up of communities united by one language, the language of hope, which has allowed you to start anew.
Pope Leo XIV to the Lebanese: You are a people who do not give up, but a people who persevere in the face of difficulties and know how to be reborn.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli occupation targets bulldozer working to remove rubble of destroyed home in Shebaa.
IRGC sources tell Al Mayadeen that reports of Iranian missile strikes on northern Iraq are false, calling them rumors spread by enemy-linked media.
Trump: Venezuela airspace should be considered 'closed in its entirety'
AFP: Ukraine behind attack on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers in Black Sea
Sheikh Qassem: We, our allies, the honorable in our nation, our people, and our army will never accept being subservient to the US or 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: They must despair, for whatever they do, this people cannot be defeated or broken, and we shall neither fall nor yield
Sheikh Qassem: Threats neither advance nor delay matters, yet the possibility of war or its absence exists because 'Israel' and the US are weighing their options

UNRWA grapples with financial strains amid Israeli pressure on donors

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Jan 2025 09:02
3 Min Read

UNRWA has long served as a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, providing essential services across the region.

Listen
  • x
  • UNRWA
    An UNRWA office that was partly demolished during the Israeli army operation in the West Bank refugee camp of Nur Shams, in Tulkarem, on Thursday, October 31, 2024 (AP)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing an escalating financial crisis due to diminished international support, a consequence of "Israel’s" allegations against the agency and its pressure on donor countries, Press TV reported on Thursday.

UNRWA has long served as a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, providing essential services across the region. However, recent challenges, including financial strains linked to "Israel's" accusations of terrorism against the agency, have significantly impacted its operations.

"Israel’s" allegations, coupled with its subsequent pressure on donor countries, have led to reduced funding for UNRWA. In Jordan alone, where the agency supports 2.3 million Palestinian refugees, the repercussions of this financial shortfall are being felt acutely.

"UNRWA must continue to operate according to its mandate until the issue of refugees is resolved within the context of a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and addresses the rights of Palestinian refugees," stressed Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

UNRWA operates 25 primary healthcare centers across Jordan, delivering critical services to refugees. A suspension of support would result in severe shortages of medicine and healthcare, leaving thousands of vulnerable families without essential aid, including food and relief supplies.

"Any reduction or suspension of UNRWA humanitarian services will result in significant challenges in education, healthcare, and, social relief," warned an UNRWA spokesperson.

According to the spokesperson, around 161 schools depend on the agency, which also operates 25 health centers and provides 61 million medical consultations annually.

On October 28, 2024, "Israel" enacted a law banning UNRWA activities within areas under its control and prohibiting Israeli authorities from engaging with the agency. The legislation, set to take effect later this month, has raised concerns over the potential closure of UNRWA’s operations in those areas.

UNRWA officials have already warned of tougher times ahead due to budget reductions from several donor countries.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, indicated that the forecast for 2025 is a little bit grim as several donor countries have indicated "that they will enter into an austerity period, an austerity budget."

Press TV highlighted that the potential reduction or suspension of UNRWA’s services is adding pressure on the Jordanian government, which is already grappling with significant economic challenges.

Both UNRWA and the Jordanian government have issued urgent calls for international support, warning that the crisis threatens the well-being of refugees and regional stability.

Read more: UNRWA digitizes 75 years of Palestinian refugee history

  • UNRWA
  • Palestine
  • Israel

Most Read

13 elite Israeli troops were wounded in a confrontations in Beit Jinn, Syria.

13 elite Israeli troops wounded in confrontations in southern Syria

  • West Asia
  • 28 Nov 2025
Point-blank killings: 'Israel' executes 2 Palestinian youths in Jenin

Graphic footage: IOF execute 2 Palestinians from point blank in Jenin

  • Politics
  • 27 Nov 2025
Four killed, ten wounded in targeted California shooting in Stockton

Four killed, 10 wounded in 'targeted' California shooting

  • US & Canada
  • 30 Nov 2025
Russia and China are not part of the Resistance Front, but they are playing an important role in building structures to bypass US power and thus facilitate a multipolar and freer world. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

The Resistance Front and BRICS

  • Opinion
  • 29 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Yemen protests
West Asia

Yemenis mark Independence Day, renew support for Palestine, Lebanon

Netanyahu speaks during a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, at the Prime Minister's Office in occupied al-Quds, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Pardon for power: Netanyahu to retreat on reform if given immunity

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan arrive for a joint news briefing after their meeting, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Iran, Turkiye share strategic interests despite differences: Araghchi

In this file photo dated Wednesday, March 21, 2018, a youth holds a flag with the image of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in Istanbul, Turkey (AP)
Politics

PKK calls on Turkey to release Ocalan to advance peace process

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