Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Why in the News?
Israel’s Knesset has banned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within its borders, citing alleged ties between UNRWA staff and Hamas.
What is Israel’s Knesset?
|
About UNRWA:
| Details | |
| Full Name | United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) |
| Establishment | Established by the UN General Assembly in 1949. |
| Primary Purpose | To provide relief, healthcare, and education for Palestinian refugees displaced after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. |
| Headquarters | Originally in Beirut, moved to Vienna in 1978, and relocated to Gaza in 1996. |
| Mandate Renewal | The mandate has been renewed repeatedly, currently extended until June 30, 2026. |
| Fields of Operation | Operates in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. |
| Beneficiaries | Supports over five million Palestinian refugees and their descendants displaced in 1948 and 1967. |
| Services Provided | • Education • Healthcare • Social services • Infrastructure improvement • Microfinance • Emergency assistance |
| Funding Sources | Primarily funded by voluntary contributions from UN member states, with limited funding from the UN Regular Budget for staffing costs. |
| Leadership | Led by a Commissioner-General, appointed by the UN Secretary-General with General Assembly approval. |
| Controversies | • Disputed mandate regarding descendants of original refugees. • Allegations of staff affiliations with militant groups. |
| Global Response | Condemned by the international community regarding bans and criticisms, with calls to support UNRWA’s humanitarian role. |
Its role and significance:
- Humanitarian Aid: UNRWA provides essential support, including food, shelter, healthcare, and education to over five million Palestinian refugees.
- Education and Empowerment: Operates schools for 500,000 children and supports microfinance programs to promote economic self-sufficiency.
- Crisis Response: Plays a vital role in emergency situations and advocates for the rights of Palestinian refugees on an international level.
PYQ:[2015] Amnesty International is: (a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars (b) a global Human Rights Movement (c) a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people (d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
