**Date: 11/3/2026**
A delegation from the Higher Committee for Follow-Up on UNRWA Affairs and the Department of Palestinian Refugee Affairs in Lebanon visited the headquarters of the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, where they submitted a memorandum outlining the risks associated with ending or reducing the role and services of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Officials of the EU Delegation welcomed the delegation. During the meeting, members of the committee presented the difficult conditions faced by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the increasing hardships inside the Palestinian camps and gatherings, which have been exacerbated by reductions affecting some of the basic services provided by UNRWA in the fields of education, health, relief, and social services.
The delegation pointed out that UNRWA has, since its establishment, constituted an international humanitarian umbrella for Palestinian refugees and plays an essential and irreplaceable role in Lebanon, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing economic crisis and the limited civil and social rights available to Palestinian refugees.
The memorandum stressed that any significant reduction in UNRWA’s services would deprive tens of thousands of students of their right to education, reduce access to essential healthcare services, and deepen poverty levels within the camps. This would negatively affect social stability in the Palestinian camps and their surrounding areas and would place additional burdens on the Lebanese state and its institutions, which are already suffering from a severe economic crisis.
The memorandum also emphasized that undermining UNRWA is not only a humanitarian issue but also carries political and legal dimensions related to the legal status of Palestinian refugees and their right of return in accordance with international legitimacy and resolutions.
During the meeting, the committee called on the European Union to provide exceptional support to UNRWA to enable it to develop and implement an emergency plan specifically for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in light of the risks resulting from the Israeli war on Lebanon. This would ensure the provision of shelter centers for displaced persons from Palestinian camps and gatherings, the supply of basic necessities such as food, medicine, water, and health and relief services, and the strengthening of resilience for refugees who remain in their camps.
**For its part, the EU Delegation highlighted several key points, including:**
* The continued support of the European Union for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
* Working on developing long-term programs to assist Palestinian youth and enhance their skills to enable them to enter the labor market.
* Encouraging European and Gulf countries to support UNRWA and strengthen its financial resources.
* Studying a project in cooperation with the Lebanese–Palestinian Dialogue Committee to allow the entry of construction materials into the camps within an organized framework coordinated with the Lebanese government and Lebanese security forces.
* Examining the possibility of supporting both Palestinian and Lebanese displaced persons, as well as anyone in need of assistance under the current difficult circumstances.
The EU Delegation also pledged to convey the memorandum to the relevant bodies within the European Union and emphasized the importance of maintaining communication and coordination between the two sides during the coming period.
