UNRWA appeals to international community amid 2019 $1.2 billion budget shortfall

AMMAN — UNRWA on Tuesday appealed for $1.2 billion to fund its core services and life-saving humanitarian aid for 5.4 million Palestine refugees across the Middle East.

The presentation of the agency’s 2019 priorities and financial requirements comes in the wake of remarkable global mobilisation to overcome an unprecedented shortfall and crisis following the decision by its largest donor, the US, to cut $300 million from its contribution last year.

In 2019, Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, will continue to face a range of daunting human development and protection challenges, UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

The $1.2 billion is the amount needed to keep UNRWA operations at the same level as in 2018, Krähenbühl added.

“Central to these pressures is the way in which the ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territory and the blockade of Gaza dramatically impact the lives of Palestine refugees. The effects of violence, incursions, lack of freedom of movement and employment opportunities, as well as increasing levels of food insecurity and psychological trauma are alarming and expanding,” he said.

In Syria, the ongoing conflict has many acute consequences for Palestinian refugees in the country and beyond, from displacement to loss of livelihoods, as well as the daily struggle to survive the immense adversity imposed by eight years of war, he added.

Some $750 million will be required to continue the agency’s core services, which encompass education, health, relief and social services and contribute to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. 

Another $138 million will be required to provide emergency humanitarian aid for the operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while $277 million will be required to support the Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal for Palestinian refugees from Syria residing in Jordan and Lebanon, according to the agency.

Additional funding is required for priority projects, particularly the need for construction projects resulting from conflict in Lebanon and Gaza, as well as initiatives designed to complete programme reforms or strengthen programme delivery.

Commenting on the appeal, UNRWA spokesman Sami Mushasha said: “In asking for $1.2 billion to maintain our core and humanitarian aid services in 2019, we had the hopes and future of more than half-a-million schoolchildren guiding us. We cannot fail them and the rest of the 5.4 million refugees.”

“We realise the challenge before us in securing this amount but [we are] confident that the generosity [from] our partners the world over in 2018 [will] be repeated in 2019. The stability in the region and peace is at stake,” Mushasha told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

“Jordan played a key and a leading role in 2018 and the years before it in shoring up support for the agency and its operations. We often say that our humanitarian services are a lifeline to Palestinian refugees in need,” Mushasha said. “Jordan’s relentless work on behalf of UNRWA was a lifeline to us.”

In the agency’s statement, Krähenbühl paid tribute to all UNRWA donor partners.

“As we faced the most severe financial challenge in our proud history, it was both humbling and inspiring to have witnessed the extent and generosity of the response from host and donor governments, from within the United Nations and NGO partners… I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude for this exemplary commitment and solidarity,” he said.

“It is essential to preserve the key services carried out by courageous UNRWA staff in some of the most difficult and polarised regions of the Middle East,” he added.

“My call, therefore, to all our partners [is] to sustain the generous funding levels achieved individually and collectively in 2018. At stake is the dignity and rights of Palestine refugees — in particular the right to education for 535,000 girls and boys,” the commissioner general said. “UNRWA for its part remains fully committed to maintaining its reform-mindedness and financial discipline.”

Addressing Palestinian refugees and UNRWA staff, Krähenbühl said: “During the extreme crisis we faced last year, we promised to show maximum resolve and creativity. We lived up to that commitment and are proud of this. At the same time, we remember that… some services were impacted and some staff members lost their jobs, which we deeply regret.”

“Out of respect for the refugee community and UNRWA staff, we will continue to demonstrate absolute determination in mobilising political and financial support for the agency. We will also remain very honest about how difficult it will be and the fact that UNRWA will continue to face major challenges. We must remain united and show the cohesion that was such an important part of our success last year,” the commissioner general said.