Date: 3/2/2026
Following an early financial contribution exceeding €14 million
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, welcomed the announcement by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen regarding the disbursement of the full funding allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for early 2026, amounting to more than €14 million.
Abu Holi stated that the Danish approach of providing early and flexible funding to support UNRWA’s budget has served as a safety valve for the stability of its programs, and represents a model of responsible support that UNRWA urgently needs at this critical time to ensure the continuity of its humanitarian operations. He noted that Denmark is a key supporter of UNRWA and a strategic partner in protecting its mandate and UN mandate.
He urged all donor countries to increase their funding and follow the Danish example by providing early and flexible financing, in order to enable UNRWA to bridge the severe funding gap in its budget for the first quarter of the current year and to allow the Agency to disburse funds according to needs and priorities.
Abu Holi pointed out that this funding directly contributes to enabling the Agency to continue providing its essential and emergency services to Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation, and ensures the regular payment of salaries to employees who support thousands of families, making this support a lifeline and an essential source of income that must not be compromised.
He emphasized the vital and indispensable role played by UNRWA, stressing that it constitutes the backbone of humanitarian work that cannot be replaced or substituted by any other entity. He affirmed that UNRWA will remain a safety net for millions of Palestinian refugees until a just solution to their cause is achieved, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.
Abu Holi warned of the serious repercussions of the chronic financial crisis facing UNRWA, stressing that the continued financial deficit directly threatens the Agency’s ability to deliver its basic and life-saving services to millions of Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation. He clarified that the continuation of educational, health, and relief services is an international obligation toward the Palestinian refugee issue and their legitimate rights.
He further stressed that sustained financial support constitutes the fundamental guarantee for protecting UNRWA’s mandate under its founding Resolution No. 302, alongside the significant political support it receives from UN General Assembly member states. He called on the international community to translate its political support into sustainable financial commitments that protect the Agency from blackmail or pressure, and that preserve the dignity of Palestinian refugees and the stability of the region.
