No "plan b" for Palestinian refugee aid, says UNRWA head amid Israeli ban: Video
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned there is no alternative to the agency’s presence in Gaza.
This follows Israel’s decision to ban it from operating in the region. Philippe Lazzarini, speaking at a strategy meeting with international donors in Geneva on Monday, November 18 emphasized that without UNRWA's involvement, the only other option would be for Israel to take over the provision of essential services to Palestinian refugees.
Lazzarini described Israel’s ban on UNRWA – issued last month – as a "dark moment" in the agency’s 75-year history. "I keep being asked if there is a 'Plan B.' There is no Plan B," he told reporters.
"If there is no U.N. or international response, the responsibility will fall back on the occupying power, Israel," he added.
The UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all humanitarian aid in Gaza, has been a key lifeline for Palestinian refugees, particularly amid the ongoing conflict.
The ban follows a wave of tensions in Gaza, where the population has been grappling with significant displacement, destruction, and shortages of basic needs. UNRWA provides education, health care, and food assistance to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the wider region.
Lazzarini called on the international community to step up its support for UNRWA, urging states to resist the Israeli ban, warning that without international involvement, the situation could worsen.
