In a plea for urgent financial support, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which aids Palestinian refugees in Gaza and across the Middle East. Guterres accused Israel of issuing evacuation orders that have created a situation where Palestinians are forced to "move like human pinballs across a landscape of destruction and death."

Speaking at a donor's conference, Guterres highlighted the deep funding gap faced by UNRWA, stating that the agency only has funds to operate until August. On a positive note, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini expressed confidence that enough new funds would be pledged to keep the agency running until the end of September. However, he emphasized the need for further funding to sustain operations through December.

UNRWA's 30,000 staff play a critical role in providing education, primary healthcare, and other development activities to approximately 6 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Lazzarini revealed that the agency is seeking emergency appeals for $1.2 billion for the Gaza war and $460 million for the Syria crisis, both of which remain significantly underfunded at only 20%.

Secretary-General Guterres warned that if UNRWA does not receive financial support, "Palestinian refugees will lose a critical lifeline and the last ray of hope for a better future." Guterres expressed his strongest condemnation for Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza, which has inflicted immense suffering on the Palestinian refugee population. He labeled the situation as incomprehensible, inexcusable, and emphasized the chaotic conditions afflicting all Palestinians and aid workers striving to provide assistance.

Guterres also condemned the latest evacuation orders issued by Israel in Gaza City, which have resulted in further civilian suffering and bloodshed. While acknowledging that nothing justifies the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, Guterres firmly declared that "nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people."

UNRWA itself has not been spared from the conflict, with 195 staff members losing their lives, the highest staff death toll in U.N. history. The agency has faced financial challenges for years, but this year's situation deteriorated further after Israeli allegations that 12 of UNRWA's workers in Gaza participated in the Oct. 7 attack. As a consequence, 16 countries halted their funding for UNRWA, resulting in a loss of approximately $450 million.

However, there have been some positive developments, with 14 donors officially resuming funding and an expectation that the United Kingdom will soon follow suit. Notably, 118 countries signed a declaration expressing strong support for UNRWA, including the United States, despite its absence at the conference. However, due to a U.S. Congressional decision, no payments can be made to the agency until March 25, 2025.

The international community is now focusing its efforts on rallying financial support for UNRWA and ensuring that the agency can continue its crucial humanitarian work, providing support and a sense of hope for Palestinian refugees facing devastating hardships.