UNRWA Official Warns of "Disaster" Amid Funding Shortage

UNRWA Official Warns of

Palestinian refugee children hold placards at a UNRWA school in the town of Sebline east of the southern Lebanese port of Saida, on March 12, 2018. (AFP PHOTO / Mahmoud ZAYYAT)

Claudio Cordone, director of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Lebanon, has warned of the worsening situation for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon due to a shortage of funds available for Agency.

"We will witness a disaster on all levels if we do not secure donations; the agency is offering as much services as possible but there are limited financial capabilities," Cordone was quoted as saying by the state-run National News Agency during a visit to Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.

Palestinian refugees urged Cordone to secure the necessary tools for online education, including electricity and Internet connection, to ensure its success, in addition to increasing financial support to help the refugees overcome the dire living condition in Lebanon.

Most Palestinian refugees live in 12 overcrowded camps across Lebanon, where the UNRWA is in charge of providing services such as education and healthcare, including paying for COVID-19 testing and treatment.

UNRWA faced severe financial challenges in 2019 with a deficit of 50 million U.S. dollars, which will be added to this year's deficit, despite the increase in support by donor countries in November and December last year.

Short Link : http://bit.ly/3izTDj3