Chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini warned that the funding crisis for Palestinian refugees in Jordan and other host countries has instigated an “absolutely unbearable” situation, according to a 22 September Arab News report.
Lazzarini said that immediate funding is required to maintain the livelihood of millions of Palestinians. The UNRWA chief presented the notion of the humanitarian setback on the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly on 21 September alongside Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
Safadi and Lazzarini discussed the issue earlier that day during a high-level meeting organized by the governments of Sweden and Jordan. Representatives of both countries stressed that funding for the UNRWA must increase.
Lazzarini remarked that the agency requires between $170 and $190 million to continue its activities in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Jordan until the end of 2023.
He added: "We had some pledges today, which will definitely help us to provide more clarity and run the operation in the foreseeable future, but we haven't yet met our objective.
Despite several UN members reportedly pledging significant donations to the UN agency, Lazzarini confirmed that the UNRWA has only secured enough funds for October.
The UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance to over five million Palestinian refugees across West Asia. However, in recent months, the agency has struggled immensely to maintain its budget due to funding cuts.
Last month, the UNRWA announced that Palestinian students attending UN-funded schools in the Gaza Strip face uncertainty due to the fact that the agency has been struggling with funds, reported Press TV.
The UNRWA funds and operates 288 schools in the Gaza Strip that educate half of Gaza's youth.
In addition to funding schools in Gaza, the UNRWA also funds 412 schools across the region, including 140 medical facilities. It currently requires $200 million to be able to continue paying the salaries of these institutions' staff members until the end of the year.
The director of the UNRWA's affairs, Thomas White, says the agency needs an additional $75 million for food assistance in Gaza.
The relief group initially announced its crippling financial deficit in January, following significant funding cuts by international donors. The appealed funding for 2023 amounted to $1.6 billion, but donors could only pledge less than half that amount.
Earlier this year, Lazzarini announced that the agency was seeking to receive an additional $300 million in a bid to continue the agency's operations till the end of the year.