Geneva — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced that it will reduce its workforce by 267 positions in response to a significant funding shortfall triggered by a U.S. pause in contributions.
According to internal documents reviewed by the agency, the cutbacks will affect staff in education, health-care and social-services departments across Gaza, the West Bank and refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon. The move follows the U.S. suspension of aid until March 2025 amid concerns about UNRWA’s internal controls.
UNRWA leadership conveyed that the decision is necessary to align staffing with a reduced budget and to ensure continued service delivery under constrained resources. The agency said it exhausted reserves and is now restructuring to avoid larger disruptions in the future.
Donor nations reacted with mixed messages: some expressed concern that service levels may drop for vulnerable populations, while others indicated willingness to step in if UNRWA can demonstrate stronger oversight and transparency.
Agency officials noted that the staff cuts will begin immediately and be phased over the coming months, with priority given to retaining frontline field workers and minimizing impact on students and patients. The announcement underscores how geopolitical funding dynamics can directly affect humanitarian operations on the ground.
