UN chief urges support for Palestine refugee relief agency

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for political and financial support for the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees as its mandate and work are in jeopardy.

For years, the agency, officially known as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has been forced to operate under extraordinary pressure, said Guterres.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, UNRWA's personnel in Gaza have endured terrible loss and hardship, with nearly 400 staff members having been killed. Hundreds of its premises remain inaccessible, severely damaged or utterly destroyed, he told a ministerial meeting on UNRWA on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly General Debate.

In occupied East Jerusalem, schools and health centers were forcibly closed, electricity and water supplies were cut, UNRWA's headquarters was unlawfully entered and bulldozed, and its oldest vocational facility – the Kalandia Training Centre – was unlawfully entered and held by Israeli authorities, said Guterres.

"These actions are wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with Israel's obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations," he said.

A ceaseless political campaign has tried to manipulate public perceptions, undermine UNRWA's ability to operate and deny the rights of Palestine refugees, he said.

The agency is excluded from coordination meetings, visas for its personnel are no longer granted by Israel, its employees are subjected to intimidation, and it faces a severe financial crisis – a cash shortfall of $100 million – putting its operations at risk and threatening the welfare of millions of Palestine refugees, said Guterres.

For Palestine refugees, UNRWA remains a critical stabilizing presence. For decades, in highly challenging environments, UNRWA has provided essential public services and prepared Palestine refugees for a more peaceful and dignified future, he added.

The UN General Assembly renewed UNRWA's mandate in December for three years. But its capacity to act is seriously imperiled, Guterres warned.

The status quo is untenable, regional stability is at stake and UN member states must take immediate action, said Guterres. "I am counting on your unwavering political and financial support – to protect UNRWA's mandate, to protect Palestine refugees and safeguard their rights, and to provide the resources and operational space required to sustain the agency's lifesaving work. Together, we can deliver for Palestine refugees and open a pathway to peace."