Palestinian refugee stresses UNRWA's vital role amid threats to its existence
A Gaza-born refugee recounts a lifetime of dependence on UNRWA and warns that recent moves to curb the agency endanger their identity and rights.
Born into a displaced family, the narrator credits UNRWA with providing their first vaccinations, education and official identity documents after their grandfather fled during the 1948 Nakba. Established in 1950, UNRWA transformed desert camps into permanent settlements across the Gaza Strip, each equipped with schools, clinics and food assistance. Successive generations have relied on the agency for free medical care, cash aid, employment and a sense of belonging, making it integral to personal and collective identity.
Recent U.S. calls to bar UNRWA from Gaza, Israeli preparations to storm a UNRWA facility in East Jerusalem, and an anticipated High Court rejection of an appeal against anti-UNRWA legislation have intensified fears. The author contends these actions aim to eliminate the institutional recognition of Palestinian refugees and their right of return, urging global support for UNRWA.
Why it matters
The piece highlights how attacks on UNRWA could strip millions of refugees of essential services and their recognized status.
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