UNRWA on Wednesday launched a $414.4 million appeal for Palestine refugees in Syria and those who have fled the country for neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan due to the conflict.

Continue the support 

The funding will be used to keep cash and in-kind food assistance running, along with healthcare, education, and technical and vocational training. 

“We must continue to support Palestine Refugees affected by the 13-year-long Syria crisis,” said Natalie Boucly, UNRWA’s Deputy Commissioner-General for Programmes and Partnerships, speaking at the launch in Beirut. 

“While the horror unfolding in Gaza is consuming most of our attention, humanitarian needs in other crisis-affected areas of operations should not be overlooked.”

Mitigating conflict impacts  

UNRWA has a long-standing humanitarian assistance operation to mitigate the worst effects of the conflict in Syria on Palestine refugees, and to address the deteriorating socio-economic conditions of hundreds of thousands who are now living in Lebanon and Jordan. 

It has carried out relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees in these countries, and in Gaza and the West Bank, for more than 75 years and mainly depends on donations to meet its budget of over $800 million. 

Despite growing needs, funding for emergency appeals for Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan decreased over recent years, with a dramatic fall to only 27 per cent coverage in 2023.

Overall funding shortfall 

Ms. Boucly said UNRWA’s overall funding situation remains precarious, especially given the challenges faced since the start of the conflict in Gaza nearly six months ago.

“UNRWA will soon struggle to maintain the level of humanitarian assistance it can provide, and that level is already at minimum,” she said. “As the Palestine Refugee community faces even greater existential challenges across the region, UNRWA’s role has never been more vital.” 

In January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that its lifesaving programmes were in danger after 16 countries suspended some $450 million in funding following Israel’s allegations that several agency staff had been involved in the brutal 7 October Hamas-led attacks on its territory. 

Allegations and investigations 

The UN appointed an independent review panel to conduct an assessment of UNRWA’s operations while its highest investigate body, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), launched a probe into the allegations. 

The review panel issued its interim findings in March, which said that UNRWA has a significant number of mechanisms and procedures in place to ensure neutrality, though critical areas still need to be addressed. A full report is expected later this month. 

Support for UNRWA 

Some governments have renewed their support to UNRWA, such as Germany, which last month announced 45 million Euros, roughly $48.7 million, in new contributions for operations in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. 

Other recent donations include a $40 million contribution from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) which will be used to provide food for more than 250,000 people and tents for 20,000 families in Gaza. 

Millions of Muslims worldwide are also donating to an UNRWA campaign during the holy month of Ramadan to support the most vulnerable Palestine refugees. Last year, some $4.7 million was raised. 

Gaza humanitarian update  

Meanwhile, there has been no significant change in the volume of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza or improved access to the north, UNRWA, said in its most recent update on the crisis. 

Last month, an average of 161 aid trucks crossed into Gaza each day, with the highest number – 264 – on 28 March, though still well below the target of 500 per day. 

UNRWA is the largest humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip and half of all supplies delivered in March were for the agency, according to the update, which was published on Tuesday. 

Over 75 per cent of Gaza’s population, roughly 1.7 million people, has been displaced since the current hostilities began on 7 October.  The majority have been uprooted multiple times.

Restrictions in north 

Around one million people are residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters, and approximately 160,000 displaced people are staying in UNRWA shelters in Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates.

UNRWA estimated that up to 300,000 people are in the two governorates, however its ability to provide humanitarian support in these areas has been severely restricted.  

Since 7 October, UNRWA has delivered flour to more than 1.8 million people in Gaza, or 85 per cent of the population.  Furthermore, nearly 600,000 people have received emergency food parcels and almost 3.6 million patient consultations have been provided at health centres and points.  

“Six months into the current military offensive, more housing and civilian infrastructure has now been destroyed in Gaza as a percentage, compared to any conflict in memory,” said the experts, who included Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967.

In a statement, the experts estimated that 60 to 70 per cent of all homes in Gaza, and up to 84 per cent of homes in northern Gaza, had been either fully destroyed or partly damaged. 

Gaza ‘beachfront’ properties 

Such “systematic and widespread destruction” is a crime against humanity, insisted the experts – who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work – before pointing to “numerous war crimes and acts of genocide”, alleged by Ms. Albanese in her report to the Human Rights Council. 

“With Israeli public officials joining calls for Palestinians to leave Gaza, to ‘take back Gaza’ to build settlements again, and ostensible enthusiasm expressed by prominent former US government officials for ‘Gaza beachfront’ properties, there is little doubt that Israel’s intent goes far beyond the purposes of military defeat of Hamas”, the experts maintained. 

Damage to the Strip is estimated at $18.5 billion – 97 per cent of the total economy of Gaza and West Bank. More than 70 per cent of this estimate is to replace housing, while another 19 per cent is the cost of civilian infrastructure, including water and sanitation, power and roads.

“Homes are gone, and with that, the memories, hopes and aspirations of Palestinians and their ability to realise other rights, including their rights to land, food, water, sanitation, health, security and privacy (especially of women and girls), education, development, a healthy environment and self-determination,” said the rights experts.

Return to the north

Inside Gaza at the weekend, thousands of people reportedly tried to head back to their homes in the north of the enclave.

Images from Gaza showed people of all ages thronging along the coastal road to the north, the majority on foot, others on donkey carts.

According to news reports, Israeli tanks blocked the road, forcing Palestinians to turn around.

Other reports indicated that Israeli bombardment continued on Monday across the enclave, with Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza also hit, leaving five dead and dozens wounded. 

Latest data from Gaza’s health authorities indicate that more than 33,200 people have been killed in the enclave since 7 October, the majority women and children. The Hamas-led attacks in Israel claimed more than 1,250 lives with over 250 taken hostage.

Bakery lifeline

In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Sunday that it had helped restart bread production Gaza City, after providing fuel and repairs to a bakery’s bread-making machines.

Before constant Israeli bombardment began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October in Israel, the Gaza Strip had around 140 industrial bakeries. 

In a tweet on X, WFP said that it had delivered fuel to one bakery that had been closed for months, contributing to the desperate humanitarian situation in the north of the enclave, where Gazans have been “largely cut off” from aid. 

“WFP will continue to provide wheat four and other resources so that bread can be available – but this quantity will only last four days,” the UN agency said, in a renewed appeal for “safe, sustained and scaled-up access to prevent famine”.

Rafah uncertainty

And amid continuing uncertainty about whether Israeli forces might attack Rafah, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi warned against creating a new displacement crisis from the enclave’s southern-most city into neighbouring Egypt.

“Another refugee crisis from Gaza into Egypt – I can assure you having been the head of UNRWA myself – I speak from knowledge – would make the resolution of that Palestinian refugee question and as a consequence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible,” Mr. Grandi said, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. 

“So we must fervently do everything for this not to happen. And this is why we have constantly said the priority is to have access inside Gaza, because that is the only way that we can prevent this from happening.”

In a statement, Volker Türk urged authorities in Kampala to repeal it in its entirety, together with other discriminatory legislation passed into law by parliamentary majority.

“Close to 600 people are reported to have been subjected to human rights violations and abuses based on their actual or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity” since being enacted last May, said Mr. Türk.

“It must be repealed in its entirety or unfortunately this number will only rise.”

He called on politicians to uphold the rights and dignity of all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Criminalization of and application of the death penalty to consensual same-sex relations are contrary to Uganda’s international human rights treaty obligations.”

Constitutional rights

He pointed out that even Uganda’s own constitution demands equal treatment and non-discrimination.

“It is crucial that the authorities also repeal Section 145 of the Penal Code Act, which also imposes criminal penalties for consensual same-sex sexual relations”, he added, together with enshrining sexual orientation and gender identity “as prohibited grounds for discrimination.”

Mr. Türk said there needed to be “a conducive environment for all human rights defenders – including LGBTQ rights advocates – to carry out their legitimate human rights work” including by enabling them be work openly without discrimination and exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Healthcare in Haiti under attack by armed gangs

Hospitals in Haiti’s capital have come under increasing attack by armed gangs, with some being looted amidst the ongoing turmoil, the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, reported on Wednesday.

Two healthcare facilities in Port-au-Prince were forced to shut down, while two others remain closed despite plans to reopen, after being shuttered due to the rising violence.

Only La Paix University Hospital remains operational in the capital area, and it has come under significant strain due to rising demand for its services.

The Delmas 18 Hospital and Saint Martin health centre were both looted on 26 and 27 of March.

PAHO, the UN-administered Pan American Health Organization, is providing it with essential supplies such as medicines, fuel, and logistical assistance to help it keep services going.

Pharmacies raided

According to OCHA, armed groups have also targeted and raided some 10 pharmacies in Haiti’s capital, severely hindering public access to medications.

Rising violence has also affected the work of HIV and tuberculosis service sites. Local UNAIDS services are collaborating with Haiti’s Health Ministry, with HIV testing being prioritized.

Amid a political vacuum, Haiti’s powerful gangs have launched coordinated attacks on various targets since February, including police stations, prisons, airports, and seaports, resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry three weeks ago.

While a state of emergency is in effect, a transitional government has yet to be established.

On Tuesday the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed hot meals to over 28,000 people in the capital and last week the UN health agency (WHO), children’s agency (UNICEF) and local partners carried out nearly 600 consultations in displacement sites.

UN in Sudan and South Sudan team up to make crucial aid deliveries

Responding to the critical needs of civilians impacted by the ongoing war in Sudan, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) country teams there and in neighbouring South Sudan have teamed up to deliver supplies to the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains.

The ongoing crisis has significantly impeded the ability of the WHO office in Sudan to access and deliver essential emergency medical supplies to the two regions, said WHO in a statement on Wednesday.

By leveraging the South Sudan office’s logistical expertise, and available resources, emergency health kits have been prepositioned from existing stockpiles in areas along the Sudan-South Sudan border, ensuring timely and effective assistance to those in dire need.

Commitment to collaboration

The joint effort is a testament to the commitment of both offices to cross-border collaboration, and the inter-agency emergency health supplies are expected to serve approximately 830,000 people in the conflict-affected Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains areas for the next three months.

The shipment is the second that WHO South Sudan has been able to deliver across the border since the outbreak of the brutal conflict between rival militaries nearly a year ago.

The dispatch of the supplies is part of WHO’s continuous relief efforts in support of the Sudanese people, the agency said.  

Egypt must halt executions, urge UN human rights experts

A group of independent UN human rights experts on Wednesday expressed grave concern after death sentences were handed down to seven people by Egypt’s highest court in January, in the years long so-called “Helwan Brigade” counter-terrorism case.

Their executions would constitute arbitrary killings in violation of the right to life due to unfair trials and other human rights violations, they said in a statement.

Suspected Helwan Brigade members were accused of targeting security forces in the wake of the military coup against former democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi more than 10 years ago.

Follow international law

“Capital punishment may only be carried out after a legal process that guarantees all of the safeguards required by international human rights law,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said.

The cases allegedly involved grave violations of international law, including enforced disappearances and incommunicado detention, torture and forced confessions, denial of access to lawyers and family visits, protracted pre-trial detention, solitary confinement, and mass trials before special terrorism courts which did not meet fair trial standards.

“Egypt has also failed to independently and effectively investigate and remedy these alleged violations as required by international and Egyptian law,” they said.

The death sentences further violate international law because they are based on convictions for vague and overly broad terrorist offences, the experts added.

There is also a real risk that executions in practice may constitute prohibited torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“We urge Egypt to halt these executions, to independently investigate the alleged human rights violations and review the judicial proceedings in light of Egypt’s international obligations,” they said.

Rapporteurs and other UN rights experts are independent of any government, are not UN staffers and receive no salary for their work.