The United Nations extends UNRWA's mandate until 2029 by an overwhelming majority
In a move reflecting renewed international confidence in the pivotal role of the organization, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to extend the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for an additional three years, thus extending its mission until June 30, 2029. This decision reaffirms the international community's commitment to its responsibilities towards Palestinian refugees, emphasizing the critical need to continue providing essential services until a just and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian question is reached.
International welcome and calls to translate support into action
In his first comment on this decisive resolution, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the vote, describing it as a powerful message reflecting broad international solidarity with the rights of Palestinian refugees. Lazzarini stated, "This vote is an acknowledgment of the international community's responsibility to support the humanitarian and development needs of Palestine refugees until a just and lasting solution is found to their decades-long suffering.".
The Commissioner-General did not stop at political welcome, but stressed the practical side, saying: “This vote must now be translated into a real commitment, and the necessary financial resources must be provided to ensure that this mandate is fulfilled,” noting the continuing gap between the great political support the agency enjoys and the chronic financial deficit that threatens its operations.
A tense political context and existential challenges
This extension is of exceptional importance given the critical juncture the agency is facing. The vote comes amidst an unprecedented campaign by the Israeli occupation authorities to undermine UNRWA's work, including legislation in the Knesset aimed at banning its activities in the occupied Palestinian territories and obstructing the delivery of aid. These moves have sparked global condemnation, with human rights and international organizations warning that paralyzing the agency could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, depriving millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and neighboring countries of this vital lifeline.
UNRWA: A historical witness and the backbone of relief
UNRWA was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 302 in 1949 to provide direct relief and employment programs for Palestine refugees in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba. For more than seven decades, the agency has become the living UN witness to the refugee issue, providing services today to some 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees in its five areas of operation: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA's importance extends far beyond simply distributing food aid; it operates hundreds of schools providing education for half a million children, dozens of health clinics, and manages social protection programs and camp infrastructure. In the wake of the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, UNRWA has become the backbone of humanitarian operations, with other international organizations relying on it to distribute aid and shelter displaced people. This makes the decision to extend its mandate a lifeline for the humanitarian system in the region.
