United States Government Halts UNRWA Funding

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and permanently end funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The decision comes ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Nakba. Over time, it has expanded its services to meet the needs of a growing refugee population. Today, UNRWA serves approximately 5.9 million registered Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation: the Gaza Strip, West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

UNRWA runs 380 schools, providing education to over 500,000 students. The agency operates 65 primary health centres, delivering more than 8.5 million patient consultations annually.

In addition to education and healthcare, UNRWA offers social safety net assistance to approximately 1.5 million vulnerable refugees through cash transfers and food aid programs. The agency is also responsible for infrastructure maintenance and improvements in 58 recognized Palestinian refugee camps, which includes sanitation, shelter rehabilitation, and community development projects.

To promote economic self-reliance, UNRWA provides microfinance services and has disbursed over 225,000 loans valued at approximately USD 225 million to refugees and other vulnerable groups.

UNRWA was banned by Israel in October 2024 after accusing several of its employees of participating in the October 7th attacks.

Trump’s administration previously exited the UNHRC in 2018, citing its disproportionate targeting of Israel.