Date: 17/4/2026
He called on donor countries to continue supporting UNRWA
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, welcomed the Spanish government’s decision to allocate €9 million to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as part of an international humanitarian contributions package approved by the Spanish Council of Ministers.
Abu Holi affirmed that this support constitutes an important step that contributes to enabling UNRWA to continue providing its essential and emergency life-saving services to millions of Palestine refugees across its five fields of operation, and serves as a guarantee for protecting its mandate from attempts to undermine it amid the unprecedented political and financial challenges facing the Agency.
Abu Holi expressed his aspiration for Spain to further strengthen its leading role and leverage its weight as a supportive and influential country in motivating European Union states to provide additional funding that covers the financial deficit and contributes to achieving financial stability in UNRWA’s budget.
Abu Holi highly appreciated the Spanish government’s commitment to providing flexible and unearmarked funding, which constitutes a safety valve for the Agency in the face of systematic political pressures. He also expressed his appreciation for Spain’s rejection of the politicization of humanitarian aid or any infringement on UNRWA’s immunity.
He added: “Spain’s steadfast support for UNRWA politically and financially is a victory for international justice and a genuine defense of the Agency’s mandate and legal authority granted under Resolution 302, and a categorical rejection of any attempts to undermine this UN reference framework before a just and comprehensive solution to the refugee issue is reached.”
He warned that the year 2026 represents the most critical juncture in the Agency’s history, as it faces an existential funding gap that threatens the collapse of its basic services system, stressing that an urgent international response is the main guarantee against attempts to undermine UNRWA’s humanitarian and political role in the region.
Abu Holi called on donor countries to follow Spain’s example and continue supporting UNRWA, emphasizing that investing in UNRWA is an investment in regional stability, in the dignity of the Palestine refugee, and in protecting the multilateral system and strengthening its role in addressing global humanitarian crises.
Abu Holi stressed that the humanitarian role carried out by UNRWA is vital and irreplaceable, given its position as a fundamental pillar in delivering life-saving services to millions of Palestine refugees, in addition to its significant contribution as a stabilizing factor in the region.
