Western countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Italy, and Finland, have announced a decision to suspend financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following allegations of some of its employees' involvement in Hamas attacks on Israeli sites on October 7. The agency stated that it had terminated contracts with some employees after receiving Israeli reports alleging such involvement. Hamas criticized the agency for dismissing employees suspected of participating in the October 7 attack, adding that this "action was taken due to Zionist accusations." The movement claimed that it is not UNRWA's "role to declare political positions on the conflict."
So, what is UNRWA? UNRWA is the "United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East." It was established as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948 to assist Palestinian refugees and create job opportunities for them. The agency began its operations in May 1950 and has its mandates renewed periodically. UNRWA provides assistance and care to approximately five million Palestinian refugees spread across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the Gaza Strip. The agency's funding comes from voluntary contributions from UN member states.
UNRWA's services include education, health care, relief, infrastructure development, camp improvement, community support, microfinance, and emergency response during times of armed conflict.
### Who is a Palestinian Refugee?
A Palestinian refugee is anyone who had Palestine as their place of residence from June 1946 to May 1948 and lost all their property, money, and home as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. The agency’s services are limited to Palestinian refugees only; UNRWA has served four generations of them and has continuously adjusted its programs to meet their changing needs. A refugee is not entitled to UNRWA services unless they are registered with the agency. Initially, UNRWA served around 750,000 Palestinian refugees, and now there are five million eligible to benefit from its services.
### Funding Sources
UNRWA receives financial support from all UN member states, the European Union, and some regional governments, making up about 92% of its financial income. The agency also forms partnerships with various institutions and companies and works closely with civil society organizations and private sector institutions to effectively utilize all available expertise and resources.
### Major Donors
The United States was the largest donor in 2013, contributing over $130 million, followed by the European Union with more than $106 million. These donations accounted for approximately 45% of UNRWA's total revenue. However, according to U.S. officials, their government decided to withhold $65 million from the agency after President Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital was rejected by Palestinians and some regional and European countries.
The advisory committee established by UN Resolution in December 1949 is responsible for providing guidance and assistance in executing the agency’s missions. This committee comprises 25 members, along with three members tasked with monitoring its work.
### Forms of Assistance
Plans are tailored to the circumstances of each operational area, with more than half of the budget allocated to education under the "knowledge and acquired skills" category, followed by the "healthy and long life" initiative and the "decent living level" initiative. The agency also assists refugees affected by conflicts in its operational areas by conducting emergency operations in the West Bank and Gaza since the outbreak of uprisings and disturbances in September 2000, and in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan since June 2012 through the "Regional Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria."
The agency does not manage the camps, nor is it responsible for their security or law enforcement, but it is responsible for managing educational, health, relief, and social service programs both within and outside them.
