United Nations in Jordan Urges Donors to Continue Essential Support for UNRWA

The United Nations in Jordan has warned of dire consequences for Palestine refugees in Jordan if funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is not immediately reinstated.

This comes in the wake of the suspension of funding by 16 donor countries following allegations against UNRWA staff in Gaza.  The decision by some of the Agency’s top donors to freeze their contributions may deprive UNRWA from over 51 percent of its forecast income for 2024, thus severely jeopardizing the critical humanitarian response in Gaza, and  the healthcare, education, relief,  social services and economic support to the broader Palestine refugee population in the region, including in Jordan.

“Palestine refugees in Jordan are deeply worried about the suspension of funding to UNRWA. If the current situation remains unchanged, we face uncertainty about our ability to continue providing all our services past the end of February,” said Olaf Becker, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan.

UNRWA's extensive operations in Jordan, with an annual budget of around US $ 145 million and approximately 7,000 staff members, play a vital role in delivering essential services to Palestine refugee communities. These drastic measures can jeopardise the running of 161 schools serving more than 107,000 students, 25 health centers providing over 1.6 million medical consultations annually, and cash assistance support for 59,000 of the most vulnerable, as well as 20,000 Palestine refugees who have fled Syria. Furthermore, UNRWA is responsible for waste management in 10 official camps, where over 400,000 individuals live.

The United Nations Secretary-General has appealed to donor governments to reverse their decisions and “at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations”.

When UNRWA’s future hangs in the balance, so do the lives and hope of millions of Palestine refugees. Investing in UNRWA means investing in stability for the region. It means investing in the economic and social well-being of Palestine refugees and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. It means investing in the resilience of unwaveringly generous host countries like Jordan by helping to mitigate the pressures associated with hosting millions of refugees. And it means honouring the commitment of the international community to Palestine refugees and their rights until a just and durable political solution is found.

Mr. Becker reiterated that “UNRWA fully relies on donor contributions to ensure the continuous delivery of its services, as per its mandate towards Palestine Refugees. Disruption to funding would have very serious consequences for the Palestine Refugees we serve, and we therefore call on our donors to reconsider their decision and resume support to UNRWA, which is urgently needed now more than ever.”