For thousands of Palestine Refugee families across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, daily life is marked by fear and risk of sudden displacement. In response, the European Union (EU), through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has provided €5 million in its latest round of emergency funding for UNRWA's protection and emergency shelter response for communities affected by occupation-related violence.

The funding supports a 12-month action plan which UNRWA began in July 2025, titled "Protection of and emergency response for Palestine Refugees affected by occupation-related violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem." It will substantially improve the Agency's ability to respond when families are impacted by demolitions, search-and-arrest operations, settler violence, and other protection risks in moments of crisis.

The intervention is expected to reach more than 500,000 Palestine Refugees, who continue to face escalating protection risks following intensified violence, increased movement restrictions, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

"Thousands of families are facing deep fear, displacement, interrupted schooling for children and struggle to meet basic needs," said Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the occupied West Bank. "With this generous support from the EU, UNRWA can continue monitoring and documenting violations affecting Palestine Refugees and UNRWA facilities, inform humanitarian action and provide some form of safety and dignity for those who have endured hardship."

Moreover, the funding will help the Agency deliver timely emergency assistance, including psychological first aid, case management, and specialised referrals. Households affected by displacement, shelter damage, or loss of belongings will receive cash-based assistance to meet urgent needs, secure temporary accommodation, and carry out essential repairs.

EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said,

"Today thousands of families in the West Bank are sleeping in damaged homes, fearful, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The European Union is the largest humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, and we are stepping up. Our strong partnership with UNRWA is built on trust and shared responsibility. Together, we are making sure Palestine Refugee families get the emergency shelter and humanitarian aid they need right now."

The contribution also increases UNRWA's operational capacity including to deploy engineers to conduct shelter assessments, and to improve security for staff to promote safe humanitarian access in volatile and hard-to-reach areas.

In 2025 alone, the EU allocated a total of €23 million in humanitarian aid to UNRWA for the delivery of assistance in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The EU remains critical to UNRWA's ability to provide Palestine Refugees in the occupied West Bank access to urgent shelter support and essential services.

UNRWAis the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

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to displaced families in Gaza