The Critical Role of UNRWA: Protecting Palestinian Women and Communities Amidst a New Ban

A comment by Maria San Miguel, GHRH Young Expert

UNRWA is the main UN agency providing essential services and protection to Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza. As the Secretary-General has said, ‘there is no alternative to UNRWA.’ [1]

For 75 years, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been a crucial

support system for over 2.3 million Palestinians, providing essential education, healthcare,

food, and psychological services. In addition, another 900,000 Palestinians in the West Bank

rely on the agency for essential services. However, a recently passed bill banning UNRWA’s

activities in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian T erritories will take effect in 90 days,

disrupting these services and impacting millions, especially women [2].

At stake are 96 schools in the West Bank that serve 45,000 students, along with 43 health

centers and food distribution programs [2]. The loss of these services will disproportionately

affect women, who rely on UNRWA for maternal healthcare, food security, and protective

services. Without UNRWA, women and girls face increased risks of poverty, limited access

to education, and greater vulnerability to exploitation. This ban, if enforced, will create a

profound gap in basic services, reshaping life for Palestinians and posing severe challenges

to women and children.

Disproportionate death and its effects on women.

The loss of 43,061 Palestinian lives has disproportionately affected women and will continue

to do so [3]. Women, who often bear the primary responsibilities for caregiving and family

support face increased vulnerabilities. The ban not only impacts women’s access to

essential resources, including healthcare, food security, and economic opportunities but also

impacts them psychologically being left to care for their families amidst ongoing instability. If

unaddressed, these disparities will deepen, leaving women at heightened risk of exploitation,

poverty, and mental health challenges.

Concerns for new mothers and reproductive healthcare.

Widespread food insecurity and rising malnutrition are worsening conditions for

approximately 14,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in northern areas, who are quickly

exhausting all available resources for survival. As the threat of famine approaches, it is

projected that around 1,440 of these women will soon require treatment for malnutrition.

UNRWA’s infrastructure and established network are essential for delivering reproductive

healthcare, including critical maternal health and protection services. UNFPA has voiced

deep concern over efforts to undermine UNRWA, warning that such actions would severely

limit access to essential care for women and girls.

"UNRWA is irreplaceable and

indispensable and must be allowed to deliver on its mandate during this conflict and

beyond,

” the agency affirmed [4].Sexual violance and child forced marriage

The ban on UNRWA’s operations would significantly exacerbate issues of sexual violence

and forced child marriages within Palestinian communities. With UNRWA's critical support

services for survivors of sexual violence—including counseling, healthcare, and legal

assistance—no longer available, women and girls would be left vulnerable and without

essential resources to seek help. Economic hardship resulting from the ban would further

increase this vulnerability, as families may feel pressured to marry off young girls to alleviate

financial burdens. The closure of UNRWA schools would interrupt educational opportunities

for girls, leaving them with diminished prospects and making early marriage a seemingly

viable option. Additionally, the trauma associated with increased violence and forced

marriages could have lasting psychological effects, including anxiety and depression,

particularly without access to UNRWA’s support services [5].

Food security

The ban on UNRWA's operations raises a critical risk of famine in Palestinian communities,

with potentially catastrophic consequences for food security and overall public health. The

removal of this support would exacerbate existing food insecurity, pushing many families to

the brink of starvation. Moreover, the risk of famine poses a severe threat to vulnerable

populations, including children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, who require

adequate nutrition for their health and development. Malnutrition rates would likely rise

sharply, resulting in immediate health crises and long-term consequences, such as stunted

growth and cognitive impairment in children. The psychological impact of famine—stress,

anxiety, and hopelessness—would further burden families already grappling with the

challenges of conflict and displacement [6].

The ban on UNRWA not only endangers essential services for millions of Palestinians,

particularly women and children, but also poses profound challenges to international law and

efforts to safeguard women’s rights in conflict zones. Upholding UNRWA’s mission is vital for

both the protection of vulnerable populations and the integrity of international humanitarian

standards.[1] Unicef.org. (2024). UNICEF statement on Israeli legislation on UNRWA. [online]

Available at:https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-statement-israeli-legislation-unrwa.

[2] Ochaopt.org. (2020). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- occupied Palestinian territory. [online] Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org.

[3] McKernan, B. and Borger, J. (2024). ‘There is no alternative’: Israel’ s ban on vital Unrwa

services will be a catastrophe for Gaza. [online] the Guardian. Available at:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/02/there-is-no-alternative-israels-ban-on-vital-

unrwa-services-will-be-a-catastrophe-for-gaza

[4] UN News. (2024). Potentially ‘deadly’ consequences could arise from Israel’ s UNRWA

ban: UNICEF. [online] Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1156331.

[5] unrwa experience in gbv programming lessons learned from the first five years. (2015).

[online]UNRW A.Availableat:

https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/gbv_learning_document_final.pdf

[6] Ioanes, E. and Narea, N. (2024). Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation. Will a new

Israeli law make it worse? [online] V ox. Available at:

https://www.vox.com/palestine/381057/gaza-israel-palestine-unwra-famine.

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