Head of UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns of service cuts without more funding
Head of UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns of service cuts without more funding
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards in Arabic that read “The right of return is fixed,” and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian boys leave a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman received medics from a doctor at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian boys jump during a soccer training session at a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Workers for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, clean a sewer at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Two girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of Palestinian flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A doctor examines a baby held by his mother at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A fish vendor cleans fish in a market at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman with her kids walks down a street, in Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A worker for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, sprays pesticides in a street, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of their country flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. The Arabic words on the Palestinian flag, center, read:"I will not stay refugee”. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards in Arabic that read “The right of return is fixed,” and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards in Arabic that read “The right of return is fixed,” and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian refugees hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a sit-in marking the World Refugee Day in front of UNRWA office in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years. In Lebanon, while has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Palestinian boys leave a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian boys leave a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman received medics from a doctor at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman received medics from a doctor at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian boys jump during a soccer training session at a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian boys jump during a soccer training session at a school run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Workers for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, clean a sewer at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Workers for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, clean a sewer at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Two girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of Palestinian flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Two girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of Palestinian flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A doctor examines a baby held by his mother at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A doctor examines a baby held by his mother at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A fish vendor cleans fish in a market at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A fish vendor cleans fish in a market at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman with her kids walks down a street, in Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Palestinian woman with her kids walks down a street, in Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A worker for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, sprays pesticides in a street, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A worker for the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, sprays pesticides in a street, at Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of their country flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. The Arabic words on the Palestinian flag, center, read:"I will not stay refugee”. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Palestinian girls wear kefiyah, a traditional Palestinian scarf with the colors of their country flag on their faces, attend an event at Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. The Arabic words on the Palestinian flag, center, read:"I will not stay refugee”. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said at a press conference in Beirut that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years.
Donors at a conference earlier this month pledged $115.2 million, of which only $13.2 million were new funds — significantly less than the $300 million the agency had called for to keep its programs running through the end of the year.
Those programs include health and education services and, in some cases, cash assistance to families in Syria, Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Jordan.
While he acknowledged that the agency’s funding woes have become “almost a broken record,” Lazzarini warned donors not to “take for granted the ability of UNRWA to muddle through.”
In Lebanon, which has been reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019, some 93% of Palestinian refugees in the country now live in poverty. Palestinians in Lebanon are banned from owning property and from working in most white collar professions. The worsening economic situation in the country has driven many to take to the sea in often-deadly attempts to reach Europe.
Lazzarini said that when the agency recently advertised for 14 sanitation workers in Lebanon’s refugee camps, it got 37,000 applicants, including many holding university degrees.
“This shows how little avenues Palestinian refugees have here when it comes to job opportunities,” he said.
Lazzarini said the international community needs to have a “proper, honest” discussion about what the agency’s future role should be in the absence of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would mean the end of its mandate.
“Next year we will be marking the 75th year of an agency, which was supposed to be a temporary agency,” Lazzarini said. “And at the same time, it seems we have never, ever been further away from a lasting and fair political solution.”
UNRWA was founded in the wake of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 to serve hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes. Today, their numbers have grown to some 5.9 million people, most in the Gaza Strip and Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as neighboring countries in the Middle East.
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This story was corrected to show that donors at a conference earlier this month pledged $115.2 million, of which only $13.2 million were new funds, not $107 million in new funds.