Displaced Palestinian Refugees and UNRWA Staff in Gaza Struggle Amid International Funding Cuts

International Desk, PNN

The Gaza Strip, devastated by Israel’s long-standing war and blockade, has now faced another blow to the UN-run Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. Due to severe financial constraints, the agency has laid off hundreds of employees and reduced the salaries of those still employed—directly affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Under UNRWA’s announced austerity plan, the salaries of local employees working in Gaza have been cut by 20%, working hours reduced, and nearly 600 employees outside Gaza have lost their jobs. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated in a letter that the strict decision had to be made due to a budget shortfall of approximately $220 million for 2026.

Among those who lost their jobs is 52-year-old teacher Mariam Shaban (name changed for security reasons), who had been teaching at a UNRWA-managed school for nearly 18 years. Her relatives said she fell ill upon learning about her dismissal.

Mariam explained that during the war, she and her family were displaced from Jabalya in Gaza to Nuseirat. In December 2023, an Israeli airstrike killed multiple family members, including her 22-year-old daughter. Her husband was seriously injured and had to go to Egypt for treatment, during which she lost her job.

She said, “Is it a crime to leave Gaza for treatment? My children are injured, my husband is fighting for his life—and I lost my job. Under which law was this decision made?”

UNRWA staff working inside Gaza are facing similar hardships. Salary cuts have made it nearly impossible for them to cover food, medical, and educational expenses.

Mustafa Al-Ghoul, head of the UNRWA staff union and a dentist who has worked at the agency for 29 years, said, “Why is the most devastated Gaza being sacrificed first? The people here are already living among death, hunger, and destruction.”

He alleged that many employees outside Gaza have been deprived of salaries and savings without any notice. “Some are suffering from cancer, some have lost entire families—they are being punished,” he said.

The ongoing crisis is fueled by a decrease in international aid. Following Israel’s accusations, several donor countries suspended funding to UNRWA. The agency has consistently denied the allegations, stating that measures are only taken if there is evidence against an employee.

Nearly 70% of the population in Gaza directly or indirectly depends on UNRWA’s services. The agency has been a lifeline for education, healthcare, and food. Displaced widow Jehan Al-Harajin said, “Before the war, UNRWA was our lifeline. Now even that assistance has stopped.”

Amjad Shawah, director of the Palestinian NGO Network, stated that weakening UNRWA does not just target one agency but attempts to dismantle the entire refugee system. He accused the pressure of targeting humanitarian aid operations.

Analysts warn that if the pressure and financial crisis on UNRWA continue, the humanitarian disaster in Gaza will deepen, with ordinary Palestinians paying the ultimate price.