Nabil Fahmy, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, has firmly asserted the central role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) across its five areas of operation. He emphasized that there is no viable alternative to the agency in delivering essential health and educational services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
This declaration was made during a meeting between Fahmy and Christian Saunders, the Acting Commissioner-General of UNRWA. The two officials discussed the critical functions of the agency as well as the significant challenges threatening its ability to continue operations and provide necessary services to refugees. The dialogue highlighted the urgent need to sustain the agency’s mandate amidst growing external pressures.
Fahmy explicitly linked attempts by the Israeli occupation to undermine UNRWA’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories to broader political objectives. He stated that these efforts are designed to dismantle the refugee issue entirely, thereby depriving Palestinians of their fundamental human right to access basic services. According to the Arab League chief, weakening the agency is not merely an administrative or financial matter but a strategic move to erase the rights and existence of Palestinian refugees.
Addressing the international community, Fahmy called upon donor countries to take immediate action to bridge the funding gap currently facing UNRWA. He warned that the widening financial deficit directly impacts the agency’s capacity to maintain its core services. Without adequate financial support, the quality and reach of healthcare and education programs for refugees will severely deteriorate, exacerbating humanitarian conditions in the region.
The Secretary-General also stressed the importance of preserving UNRWA’s original mandate, which was established by a United Nations resolution in 1949. He urged stakeholders to defend the agency against attempts to damage its credibility or question the neutrality of its humanitarian mission. Fahmy argued that maintaining the integrity of UNRWA is essential to ensuring the continuous provision of aid to Palestinian refugees, who remain dependent on the agency for their daily survival and development.
