As Gaza’s students embarked on their new academic year this Sunday, a shadow of uncertainty loomed over their ability to complete the school year without disruptions, primarily due to a financial crisis gripping the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) oversees a network of 288 schools in the Palestinian territory, in addition to funding 700 institutions throughout various parts of the Middle East region. This extensive operation also includes the support of 140 medical clinics. However, a pressing shortfall of nearly $200 million has emerged, critically affecting the agency’s capacity to sustain essential services and meet staff salary obligations through the entirety of 2023.
In addition to the substantial funding gap for its broader regional operations, UNRWA is in urgent need of $75 million to provide vital food aid to the residents of Gaza.
It’s crucial to note that approximately two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants are refugees, predominantly the descendants of those who were displaced or compelled to leave their homes and villages during the 1948 conflict, which marked the establishment of the state of Israel.
UNRWA’s educational institutions play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Gaza’s youth, catering to nearly half of the young population, with approximately 300,000 students enrolled in government-run and private schools.
In Nusseirat refugee camp, situated in the central Gaza Strip, Sami Abu Mallouh, a 47-year-old Palestinian refugee, highlighted the profound dependency of his 12-member family on UNRWA for essential services, encompassing education, medical care, and vital food assistance.
