UNRWA boss calls for more funding before mandate renewal vote
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has called for more funding, saying its current shortfall “risks the rights, lives and future” of millions of Palestinians.
Speaking from Amman, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini expressed hope that today’s vote in New York on the renewal of the agency’s mandate would reflect “the overwhelming solidarity of people across the world with Palestine Refugees and UNRWA”.
However, he noted that a reaffirmation of its mandate alone is “not sufficient”, saying it had to be combined with “adequate funding” and “a delineation of its role in political plans for the occupied Palestinian territory”.
Lazzarini blamed “virulent disinformation” for the strangling of the agency’s funding. It faces a $200m shortfall between the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2026, he said.
Israel has taken great pains to associate the agency with Hamas, accusations which have been debunked by independent experts. Israel has also banned UNRWA from operating inside Gaza and the West Bank.
The UNRWA boss also stressed that the agency remains active in Gaza, and called for accountability over the killings of 380 of its employees in the enclave.
WFP warns Gaza families face another brutal winter exposed
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says many families in Gaza are bracing for another winter spent without proper shelter, as heavy rain floods their tents and damages what little food supplies they have left.
In a post on X, WFP shared images of soaked tents and warned that plunging temperatures will worsen conditions for displaced families living outdoors.
The agency said its cash assistance programme remains a vital lifeline for the most vulnerable households as winter approaches, and that it is working to expand support to those most at risk.
