The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory. The agency reports that displacement rates among Palestinians in the West Bank have surged to unprecedented levels not seen since 1967. This sharp increase coincides with intensifying violence perpetrated by settlers and a severe deterioration in living conditions for the local population.
Christian Saunders, the Acting Commissioner-General of UNRWA, highlighted that the agency is currently grappling with a significant financial shortfall. He stated that UNRWA anticipates a cash flow deficit of approximately 100 million dollars during the year 2026. Saunders cautioned that continued funding gaps could severely impair the agency’s capacity to deliver essential services to Palestinian refugees, even as operational demands rise due to the worsening situation on the ground.
According to Saunders, the West Bank is experiencing ongoing forced displacement alongside persistent settler violence. Furthermore, UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem are facing targeted measures. These include the agency’s headquarters, vocational training centers, schools, and health clinics, all of which are under pressure. The combination of these factors has expanded the scope of needs falling upon the agency just as its financial resources are shrinking.
In the Gaza Strip, Saunders emphasized that humanitarian requirements remain massive despite relative improvements following the ceasefire. He noted that the majority of residents continue to endure harsh living conditions and acute shortages of basic services. Specifically, 94% of the population lacks adequate shelter, while nearly 90% suffer from intermittent access to clean water. Additionally, about 98% of households live near environmental hazards linked to sewage, rubble, and rodents.
Despite these challenges, more than 10 thousand UNRWA staff members are continuing to provide aid to roughly 1.7 million people in Gaza. The agency operates over 80 emergency shelters and provides approximately 70 thousand medical consultations weekly. It also supplies water, sanitation, and hygiene services to around one million individuals in the strip.
Saunders stressed that UNRWA’s operational capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise are critical components of humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts in the occupied Palestinian territory. He called on governments to provide robust financial and political support to ensure the agency can fulfill its mandate. This support is vital given the rising humanitarian needs, the expansion of displacement in the West Bank, and the ongoing repercussions of the war in Gaza.
