The UN’s beleaguered agency for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that a “dire” financial crisis had this week forced it to fire hundreds of Gazan staff who had left the territory.
For more than seven decades, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) has provided aid and assistance to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
A spokesperson said, “On Tuesday, 571 local UNRWA staff, working outside Gaza, were informed that they were being separated from the agency with immediate effect.”
However, the agency has faced a sharp decline in voluntary contributions, which it relies on for funding, amid growing attacks from Israel. This has caused an unprecedented financial crisis for the organisation.
The spokesperson added that while UNRWA’s operations cost $880 million last year, it received only about $570 million in contributions.
“As things stand, we expect a substantial shortfall in 2026,” they said.
All staff affected by this week’s announcement were originally based in the Gaza Strip but had relocated outside the territory after the genocide started in October 2023.