On 11 December, the United Nations All-Party Parliamentary Group (UN APPG) were honoured to welcome Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The briefing for parliamentarians focused on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine, the challenges facing UNRWA and the difficulties in operating in such a landscape.
For over a year, Palestinians in Gaza have faced unconscionable levels of death, destruction, displacement and starvation as a consequence of Israel’s military campaign. Against the backdrop of this devastation of ongoing air strikes, evacuation orders and a health system on its knees, UNRWA remains at the frontline of responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, in an environment that the Commissioner described as “post-apocalyptic”. The Agency has never been more needed: millions of Palestinian refugees depend on its vital services, and as the UN Security Council underscored in October, “no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.”
Despite the assertion from member states and the UN about the vital role of UNRWA, the agency faces unprecedented challenges in its efforts to provide assistance. In the words of Lazzarini, “UNRWA has never been under such attack”.
At present, UNRWA is facing a challenging operating environment as well as unprecedented levels of political opposition. Tragically, 250 staff members have been killed, many of its premises have been damaged, and civilians under its protection are routinely targeted. With much of the infrastructure in Gaza destroyed, humanitarian access has been severely restricted. The Commissioner told MPs convoys are frequently looted or attacked. He cited an event in November where 95% of the aid carried in a convoy of 100 trucks was stolen or damaged, and staff members were injured.
In addition to physical threats, UNRWA is also under attack on legal, diplomatic, legislative, media and social media fronts. Lazzarini told parliamentarians of the rampant spread of misinformation, with social media campaigns falsely associating UNRWA with terrorist activities. This has been compounded by recent legislation in Israel targeting the existence of the agency that threatens to restrict its ability to provide aid or confirm the safety of its staff in Gaza. If these laws are fully implemented, they could effectively prevent UNRWA from operating in the region.
The Commissioner General called on member states to encourage Israel to rescind the legislation and to reaffirm their support for the agency. The UK’s re-commitment to UNRWA and its recent statements of support at the UN, have been welcome. In response, Lord Hannay, co-chair of the UN APPG, said: “The (UK) government believes that UNRWA is irreplaceable, and support has been very strong and will continue to be very strong.”
However, such support is not universal. Lazzarini explained that the Israeli government has sought to demonize and discredit UNRWA through public claims that a significant number of its staff are members of terrorist organisations. In response to these accusations, the UN took swift action, ending the contracts of nine staff members and launching two investigations into these accusations. The investigation was not able to independently authenticate information used by Israel to support the allegations and UNRWA has called for greater efforts to correct the record and clarify the agency’s vital humanitarian mission.
Further, with the pause on American financial support there is a material threat to the sustainability of the Agency’s operations. Although countries from the Global South have begun to increase their contributions, this does not fully cover the shortfall left by the US, and Commissioner Lazzarini implored the broader international community to step up its efforts to ensure that the agency’s work can continue.
In concluding, the Commissioner General reiterated the irreplaceable role of UNRWA in providing basic services like primary health care to millions of Palestinian refugees. He underscored that the agency remains steadfast in its mission, despite overwhelming challenges, stating “we (UNRWA) cannot be replaced”.
UNA-UK urges the UK to go further in its support for UNRWA by unequivocally refuting and combatting misinformation aimed at the agency and by publicly encouraging Israel and the US to halt efforts to undermine it. To truly uphold justice and human rights, the UK must not only stand with UNRWA but take decisive action to end the ongoing atrocities. This includes advocating for a ceasefire, halting all arms sales to Israel, and ensuring unfettered humanitarian support to those suffering. The UK must demand accountability and go further in taking action to champion and support the ICC and ICJ to address violations of international law. The climate of impunity that has enabled these horrors to continue must be dismantled, and the UK can lead the way in creating a future where peace and justice are non-negotiable.
Mr Lazzarini has been the Commissioner General of UNRWA since 2020. In this capacity, Mr Lazzarini is responsible for overseeing the agency's operations, which provide vital services to Palestinian refugees across five fields of operation: the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Photo: UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini, second to left, addresses the UN APPG. Credit: UNA-UK.
Read more:
