jordan pulse -

Rafiq Kharfan, the Director-General of the Palestinian Affairs Department, highlighted Jordan’s significant role, under the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in mobilizing funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The King emphasized the importance of UNRWA and the necessity of securing its funding during his recent tours.

In a statement on Monday, Kharfan noted that since the funding cut in 2018, Jordan’s diplomatic efforts have tirelessly sought to secure finances for the agency, resulting in a very minimal deficit of approximately $10 million by the end of that year.

Kharfan pointed out that UNRWA spends about $145 million annually in Jordan, a figure that does not correspond with the refugee count. Refugees in Jordan constitute 42% of the total number in the five regions where UNRWA operates, yet the agency’s budget in Jordan is only about 18%. Jordan bears significant burdens due to the Palestinian refugee situation.

“The current budget for UNRWA stands at approximately $880 million, and the available funding will only suffice until the end of June, covering only 50% of UNRWA’s annual budget,” Kharfan stated. He added that according to annual assessments, Jordan provides direct and indirect services to Palestinian refugees exceeding $1 billion; this is more than what the agency spends across all its operational areas, thus increasing Jordan’s financial burdens in education, health, and relief.

Kharfan clarified that for Gaza in particular, UNRWA is a lifeline. The suspension of funding came as a result of unsubstantiated Israeli claims. Most countries have resumed their contributions to the UN agency, except for the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Italy. Notably, the U.S. used to contribute a third of the budget, approximately $330 million.

He emphasized that this suspension will undoubtedly impact UNRWA, but there is reliance on compensation from other countries through increased contributions.

Kharfan explained that of the 5.7 million Palestinian refugees in the five regions, 2.4 million are in Jordan, with nearly a million receiving direct services from UNRWA, whether in education, health, or relief.

He mentioned that 161 schools in Jordan provide basic education to 107,000 students from first to tenth grade, after which they transition to government schools. Additionally, about a million Palestinian refugees visit the 25 health centers spread across Jordan.

Al-Mamlaka