The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) issued an urgent appeal on Thursday, warning that its humanitarian operations could face serious disruption following the suspension of US funding.
Efforts to marginalize @UNRWA “aim to change long-established parameters for a future political solution.” – Commissioner-General @UNLazzarini.
The agency is battling funding shortages & scrutiny to continue helping Palestine refugees. https://t.co/kKP3NU39pH
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) November 14, 2025
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told reporters that the agency is operating “week by week, month by month,” and while November salaries can be processed, there is no certainty UNRWA will be able to pay its staff in December.
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The crisis deepened after Israel barred UNRWA from operating on its territory, alleging involvement of some staff in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The United States — the agency’s largest historical donor — subsequently halted all financial support.
Following Israel’s decision, UNRWA repatriated its international staff from Gaza and the West Bank, reducing its ability to distribute food aid. Nevertheless, the agency still employs 12,000 staff in the Palestinian territories and remains essential for millions of refugees.
Lazzarini highlighted UNRWA’s critical role:
• 75,000 displaced Palestinians sheltered in 100 UNRWA buildings in Gaza
• 15 million+ primary health consultations delivered over the past two years
• 14,000 daily consultations currently provided
• Joint vaccination campaigns with UNICEF and WHO
The agency projects a $200 million funding shortfall between late 2025 and early 2026. Lazzarini cautioned that expected income for early 2026 is far too low to cover the deficit.
“In the absence of a significant influx of new funding,” he warned, “the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestine refugees across the region will be compromised.”
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said UNRWA will have no role in postwar Gaza, Lazzarini noted that since the ceasefire, the agency has expanded its services, underscoring the scale of ongoing humanitarian needs.
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