Context: The US and eight other Western countries, which together provided more than half of UNRWA’s 2022 budget, have decided to pause funding for the agency. Western Countries have accused officials of UNRWA of being involved in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The development could have severe implications for Palestinians in Gaza.
More about the news:
- UN officials strongly urged countries to reconsider their decision to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
- UN has assured that strict action would be taken against any staff member found to be involved in Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.
- The agency emphasized that two million Palestinians in Gaza depend on UNRWA services, which would be significantly reduced if funding is not restored.
- Israel asserts that Hamas tunnels run next to or under UNRWA facilities and accuses the agency of promoting anti-Israel sentiments in its schools.
- In response, UNRWA has denied all allegations, asserting no links to Hamas.
- Former UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness characterized the accusations against the agency as a ‘coordinated political attack’ by Israel, claiming that Israel seeks to disband UNRWA to achieve its objectives in Gaza.
About UNRWA:
The agency offers education, health, relief, social services, microfinance, and emergency assistance programs both inside and outside refugee camps. Most of the Palestine refugees, totalling 5.9 million, are descendants of those displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), is a UN organization committed to supporting the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees.
- UNRWA's mandate extends to Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Palestine War and subsequent conflicts, including their descendants and legally adopted children.
- Established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
- It initially offered assistance to both Jewish and Arab Palestine refugees within the State of Israel until the Israeli government assumed responsibility for them in 1952.
- Operating as a subsidiary body of the UNGA, UNRWA's mandate undergoes periodic renewal every three years.
- Since its inception, it has consistently received extensions, most recently until June 30, 2026.
- UNRWA operates in five regions: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
- Assistance for Palestinian refugees outside these areas falls under the purview of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), established in 1950 as the primary agency aiding refugees globally.
- Notably, UNRWA is unique among UN agencies as it is exclusively dedicated to assisting refugees from a specific region or conflict.
- In contrast, UNHCR has a distinct mandate focused on helping refugees eliminate their refugee status through local integration, resettlement in a third country, or repatriation when feasible.
History:
- In the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the subsequent displacement of Palestinian Arabs, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 212 (III).
- The General Assembly, in 1949, established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The resolution was adopted without opposition, receiving support from Israel and Arab states, with only the Soviet bloc and South Africa abstaining.
- Commencing operations in 1950, UNRWA initially focused on ‘direct relief and works programs’ for Palestine refugees, aiming to prevent conditions of starvation and distress while fostering peace and stability.
- The agency's mandate underwent further expansion. UNRWA was to ‘establish a reintegration fund’ for the permanent re-establishment of refugees.
- More funding was to be given for reintegration than relief, urging UNRWA to continue providing programs for health care, education, and general welfare.
Definition of a Refugee:
- UNRWA has adopted its own operational interpretation of the term ‘refugee’ to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid, excluding considerations of final status.
- In the context of Palestine, a refugee is defined as an individual whose habitual residence was in Palestine between June 1, 1946, and May 15, 1948, and who suffered displacement of both home and livelihood due to the 1948 conflict.
- While primarily centred on Palestine refugees, the mandate also extends to those displaced by ‘the 1967 Arab-Israel war and subsequent hostilities’ and occasionally includes a broader segment of the local community.
- Numerous individuals, although not officially designated as ‘Palestine refugees,’ have long been registered as eligible recipients of UNRWA services.
- The offspring of male Palestine refugees, including adopted children, are also deemed eligible for refugee registration.
Organization and mandate:
- It holds the distinction of being the UN agency that directly reports to the General Assembly, lacking a constitution or statute, unlike counterparts such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
- The determination of UNRWA's scope and mandate primarily relies on General Assembly resolutions, with potential influence from other UN organs, such as the Secretary-General.
- Leadership of UNRWA is entrusted to a Commissioner-General. The Commissioner-General, an Under-Secretary-General of the UN, oversees all agency activities and personnel.
- UN General Assembly formed an Advisory Commission to assist the Commissioner-General in fulfilling the agency's mandate.
- Initially composed of four members, the commission now comprises 28 members and four observers.
- Membership is determined through General Assembly resolutions, with host countries of Palestinian refugees (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon) sitting on the commission, followed by the 24 major donors and supporters of UNRWA.
- Palestine, the European Union, and the League of Arab States have held observer status since 2005, with the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joining as an observer in 2019.
Funding:
- Budget is established by the UN General Assembly and is predominantly derived from voluntary contributions by UN member states.
- It also receives some revenue from the regular UN budget.
- In addition to the regular budget, UNRWA secures funding for emergency activities and special projects, such as those responding to the Syrian civil war and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2019, nearly 60% of the total pledge of $1.00 billion came from EU countries, with Germany as the largest individual donor.
- UNRWA also forms partnerships with non-governmental donors, including nonprofit ‘national committees’ based in donor countries.
Since its inception, UNRWA has expanded beyond immediate relief and social services to provide a diverse range of social and humanitarian services. As of 2019, the majority of its budget is allocated to education (58%), followed by healthcare (15%), and general support services (13%).