UNRWA warns against depriving a whole generation of Palestinian children of education if it collapses

UNRWA has warned of the catastrophic consequences that may result from its collapse, stressing that this would deprive a whole generation of Palestinian children of education.

Philip Lazarini, Commissioner -General of the Agency, said in statements that the absence of education will exacerbate instability in the region, expressing his deep concern about the social and economic repercussions resulting from this deprivation..

He stressed that there is a real threat to the agency’s collapse if its severe financial distress continues, which will result in sacrificing a generation of children who will be deprived of appropriate education.

Lazarini described UNRWA as a “lifestyle” for about six million Palestinian refugees distributed in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria and stressed that education represents a basic right and a decisive tool to achieve peace and stability, warning that losing this opportunity means losing a bright future for Palestinian children.

For its part, Francesca Albaniza, the internationally concerned with human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that Israel aims to liquidate “UNRWA” as a symbol of the international presence in Palestine.

UNRWA had announced earlier that about 260,000 children from the Gaza Strip have joined the remote learning program that the agency has provided since last January.