The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, issued a stark warning on Friday, stating that the agency’s potential collapse due to a severe financial crisis could deprive an entire generation of Palestinian children of education.

In a press statement, Lazzarini highlighted the critical role UNRWA plays in supporting Palestinian refugees and the catastrophic implications of its failure.

“There is a real risk of the agency collapsing and imploding” if its financial difficulties persist, Lazzarini said, underscoring the urgency of the situation. He emphasized that the collapse of UNRWA would have far-reaching consequences, particularly for education. “If UNRWA collapses, we will certainly sacrifice a generation of children who will be deprived of a proper education,” he warned, pointing to the long-term impact on Palestinian youth.

Lazzarini described UNRWA as a “lifeline” for approximately six million Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The agency provides essential services, including education, healthcare, and social support, to a population heavily reliant on its programs amid ongoing displacement and regional instability.

The warning comes as UNRWA faces mounting financial challenges, exacerbated by funding cuts and geopolitical tensions, threatening its ability to sustain operations. Lazzarini’s statement serves as a call to action for the international community to bolster support for the agency to prevent a humanitarian and educational crisis for Palestinian refugees. (ILKHA)