The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing a dire financial crisis and accusations from Israel, amidst its 75 years of operation. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned the agency is at a breaking point, providing essential services like education and healthcare to Palestinian refugees. The UN General Assembly President, Dennis Francis, supported continued donor support for UNRWA, highlighting its importance as a lifeline for Gazans amidst 150 days of violence. Lazzarini criticized a deliberate campaign against UNRWA, involving misinformation to undermine its operations and tarnish its reputation. He addressed accusations from Israel of employing over 450 'military operatives' from Hamas and other armed groups, suggesting Israel's long-term political goal of ending the agency's operations and the refugee status of the Palestinian people. Lazzarini warned that without additional funding, UNRWA would be in uncharted territory, with serious implications for global peace and security.
Unrwa funding crisis threatens global peace, says agency head https://t.co/cREqdLmEoQ
UNRWA head @UNLazzarini is in the UN trying to save his terrorist-employing organization: “UNRWA is facing a concerted campaign to undermine its operations (…) it involves inundating donors with misinformation designed to tarnish the agency’s reputation” https://t.co/LWjABORh9f
UNRWA Head Warns of ‘Concerted Campaign’ to End Its Operations https://t.co/xadPL3IwES
The head of the #UNRWA has warned of “a deliberate and concerted campaign” aimed at ending its operations as #Israel accuses the organization of employing over 450 “military operatives” from Hamas and other armed groups. https://t.co/br5dO1ksZI
Political decisions & attempts to "eliminate @UNRWA" are not just based on the behaviour of some of the agency's staff, but aim “to eliminate the status of refugees” - UNRWA chief @UNLazzarini tells reporters at UN Headquarters. More here ⤵️ https://t.co/NtPxl83MHE https://t.co/DZTsUZyZWj
The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency warned on Monday of "a deliberate and concerted campaign" aimed at ending its operations as Israel accused the organization of employing over 450 "military operatives" from Hamas and other armed groups. https://t.co/UCqgDrZKEo
The head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency warned on Monday of "a deliberate and concerted campaign" aimed at ending its operations as Israel accused the organization of employing over 450 "military operatives" from Hamas and other armed groups. https://t.co/vxNNaKU7UV
“Without additional funding, we will be in uncharted territory - with serious implications for global peace and security.” – @UNLazzarini says the fate of millions of people who depend on @UNRWA hang in the balance. https://t.co/LJHHMCGrNG https://t.co/yskMoUygxN
"Only @UNRWA has the footprint & capacity to deliver services, including education and primary healthcare at scale, in the absence of a full-fledged state authority." @UNLazzarini to @UN General Assembly: @UNRWA is at a breaking point. Full statement ⬇️ https://t.co/If5QVhcIiQ https://t.co/JrfMqwn9Yk
The head of UNRWA said Israel always had the “long-term political goal” of destroying the agency because it believes that doing so will end the refugee status of the Palestinian people and their right to return once and for all. https://t.co/BksHMJDdNv
I am not advocating for UNRWA to exist forever. The agency was always meant to be temporary. It is a stain on our collective conscience that for 75 years UNRWA has had to fill a vacuum left by the lack of a political solution and genuine peace – Philippe Lazzarini @UNLazzarini https://t.co/qNtk4kKNFY
.@UNRWA is facing a deliberate and concerted campaign to undermine its operations and ultimately end them … part of this campaign involves inundating donors with misinformation designed to foster mistrust and tarnish the reputation of the agency – Philippe Lazzarini @UNLazzarini https://t.co/zyGbMwhxqe
UNRWA has no capacity to absorb financial shocks, especially while a war rages in Gaza. I am deeply grateful to the Member States and donors that have maintained or even increased the funding. – Philippe Lazzarini @UNLazzarini, @UNRWA head https://t.co/tpDzDkk8Ny
I’m here today because UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees, is at a breaking point – Philippe Lazzarini @UNLazzarini, @UNRWA Commissioner-General https://t.co/UAoGycvRYq
Often it is a crisis that drives us to collective action, let us seize the urgency of this moment to not only support @UNRWA to rebuild itself but to find a permanent resolution to this senseless and brutal conflict. – Dennis Francis @UN_PGA https://t.co/5umrBg5uSb
To many, UNRWA has been a powerful and living symbol of what the United Nations represents. As an exclusively humanitarian agency it has no political mandate regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. – Dennis Francis @UN_PGA https://t.co/T2n2mhThRQ
“Let me close with a reminder that this week marks a grim milestone: 150 days of violence ... each day this painful reality continues to entrench the feeling of frustration and disillusionment – especially by those caught in the crossfire” – Dennis Francis @UN_PGA https://t.co/BtmpgBITe2
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees @UNRWA is a lifeline for Gazans and should have the continued support of donor nations, the President of the United Nations General Assembly has insisted. 🎧Listen in on our interview with @UN_PGA Dennis Francis. https://t.co/sh7Ky24ABp