UNRWA Warns Displacement in West Bank Has Reached Unprecedented Levels Since 1967

UNRWA Warns Displacement in West Bank Has Reached Unprecedented Levels Since 1967
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The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that Palestinian displacement in the West Bank has reached levels not seen since 1967, amid worsening humanitarian conditions across the occupied Palestinian territory and a severe financial crisis threatening the agency’s ability to maintain essential services.

UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders said the agency faces a projected cash-flow shortfall of around $100 million in 2026, stressing the need for additional funding to sustain vital services for Palestinian refugees. He also warned of continued displacement and settler violence in the West Bank, while pointing to measures affecting UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem, including its headquarters, vocational training center, schools and health infrastructure.

In the Gaza Strip, Saunders said humanitarian needs remain enormous despite the relief brought by the ceasefire. He reported that 94 percent of the population lacks adequate shelter, while 90 percent face repeated interruptions in access to clean water. Some 98 percent of families are also living near environmental hazards, including sewage, rubble and rodents.

More than 10,000 UNRWA staff members continue to provide assistance to around 1.7 million people in Gaza. The agency is also operating more than 80 emergency shelters, providing approximately 70,000 medical consultations each week and delivering water, sanitation and hygiene services to more than one million people.

Saunders said UNRWA’s operational capacity, infrastructure and expertise would remain essential for humanitarian assistance, recovery and reconstruction efforts. He called on governments to provide strong financial and political support to enable the agency to continue carrying out its mandate in the occupied Palestinian territory.