UNRWA worried as tensions escalate further in Lebanon

UNRWA is voicing its concerns as tensions keep escalating in Lebanon, according to Asharq Al-Awsat plus agencies on September 25th.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is increasingly concerned as three of its areas of operations have turned into “active frontlines”.

“We already have Gaza, we already have the West Bank, so we have two fields of operation which have become active frontlines,” commented UNRWA’s commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, “We (now) also have Lebanon, which would mean that basically three… contexts of operation will become humanitarian emergencies,” he added.

Due to the incessant strikes targeting Lebanon, UNRWA has temporarily suspended operations in the area.

Following September 23rd attacks on Hezbollah, the number of displaced in Lebanon substantially increased. Moreover, the strike produced the highest number of casualties since the 1975-90 civil war, killing 558 people.

READ: Tens of thousands’ have fled Lebanon: UN

UNRWA staff has also been killed by Israeli strikes on numerous occasions. “At least 222 UNRWA staff have been killed and two-thirds of the agency’s facilities in Gaza have been damaged and destroyed since the start of the Gaza war”.

“Depending on how the war will be unfolding in Lebanon, we have thousands of staff there, it is not excluded… that staff will also be killed,” Lazzarini stated.

The agency is currently facing financial issues as its largest financial backer, USA, has not resumed funding.

Lazzarini said “I’m very concerned about 2025 because there is a certain number of traditional donors who will go through austerity measures and who will reduce their oversea budget.”

Asharq Al-Awsat/agencies