The looming collapse of UNRWA threatens to deprive an entire generation of Palestinian children of education, pushing them further into hardship. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s Commissioner-General, warned that without urgent financial support, UNRWA faces an existential crisis, stating, “A generation will be sacrificed, left without proper education.”

For over 70 years, UNRWA has been the backbone of support for more than six million Palestinian refugees, offering education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Lazzarini stressed that no Palestinian institutions can replace its critical role, especially as Israel works to dismantle the agency’s presence in Gaza and shift responsibilities elsewhere.

In Gaza, where entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, UNRWA’s schools—once sanctuaries of learning—have become symbols of despair. Denying education to 100,000 children will only deepen instability, Lazzarini cautioned, warning that “stripping children of their future is planting the seeds of further suffering and resistance.”

UNRWA now faces an unprecedented assault after key donors froze funding in response to Israeli allegations linking staff members to the October 7, 2023 events. Israel has also barred the agency from operating in Gaza and the West Bank, further crippling its ability to serve Palestinian refugees.

For Palestinians, the attack on UNRWA is not just about aid—it is an attack on their fundamental rights and aspirations. Its collapse would not only strip them of vital services but also extinguish hope for a future where their dignity and right to education remain intact.