Wed Sep 25 00:34:58 UTC 2024: ## UN Refugee Agency Faces Triple Crisis as Lebanon War Adds to Strain
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is facing a severe crisis with the escalation of violence in Lebanon adding to the already difficult situations in Gaza and the West Bank. This has left the agency, already struggling with a major financial shortfall, facing a “triple tragedy,” according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
The agency, which provides essential services like education and healthcare to Palestinian refugees, is now operating on active frontlines in three of its five areas of operation. In Lebanon, UNRWA has been forced to pause some services and convert schools into shelters for hundreds of displaced civilians following Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets.
The situation in Gaza has also worsened, with at least 222 UNRWA staff killed and two-thirds of the agency’s facilities damaged or destroyed since the start of the conflict.
Lazzarini expressed concerns that the situation in Lebanon could worsen, potentially mirroring the situation in Gaza. He also warned that UNRWA staff in Lebanon could be at risk, adding to the agency’s already stretched resources and increasing the need for donor support.
The agency is facing a funding shortfall of $80 million for 2024, with Lazzarini organizing a donor conference this week to secure pledges. While UNRWA has enough funding until the end of October, the long-term outlook remains uncertain, with concerns about potential cuts from traditional donors in 2025.
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