2023 annual report
a message from our leadership
who we are
UNRWA USA’s board and staff are a group of talented individuals dedicated to improving the lives of Palestine refugees.
In 2023, we were thrilled to welcome Lein Soltan as Advocacy Manager, along with two freelance Gaza content producers, Amjad Shabat and Motaz Azaiza. Before October, Motaz and Amjad worked tirelessly on the ground in Gaza, sharing the real stories of Palestine refugees with our American audience.
Motaz has since gained global recognition as an exceptionally talented photojournalist. In July, Motaz played a pivotal role in our advocacy campaign to secure $75 million in food assistance for UNRWA to ensure continued food distribution in Gaza and the West Bank.
We also celebrated Laila Mokhiber, our Director of Communications, as July 2023 marked her 10 years of service to UNRWA USA!
With our new colleagues, our organization has evolved for the better, bringing fresh perspectives to our mission.
We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the people behind our impactful work and discover what inspires them both professionally and personally.
2023 in review
January 2023: The Israeli military kills 10 Palestinians during a large-scale raid on Jenin refugee camp
February 2023: Following the earthquake in Syria, UNRWA USA supported nearly 200 households with emergency housing assistance funds
March 2023: UNRWA USA hosted "Mama & Me: A Palestinian Cook-Off" to celebrate Arab Mother’s Day (March 21), featuring beloved Palestinian chefs cooking their favorite dishes with their mothers, grandmothers, and children in a festive demonstration supporting Palestine refugees
May 2023: UNRWA USA held its signature Gaza 5K walk/run in Washington, DC, and raised $263,000+ to fund UNRWA mental health support for refugee children in Gaza
May 2023: Lein Soltan joins the UNRWA USA team as Advocacy Manager
July 2023: July 1st marked Director of Communications Laila Mokhiber's 10 years of service to UNRWA USA
August 2023: Just two months before everything changed, UNRWA USA produced "Gaza to the World"—a live-streamed concert from Gaza’s shores featuring its finest musicians, including SOL Band and the Edward Said Conservatory ensemble.
September 2023: UNRWA USA successfully campaigned to release $75 million in food assistance for the Gaza Strip and West Bank, which had been held up by two US lawmakers.
September 2023: UNRWA USA hosted another Gaza 5K walk/run in the Bay Area, featuring a performance by Anees and raising over $250K for mental health.
October-December 2023: As violence erupted in Gaza, UNRWA USA secured UNRWA food assistance for 68,000+ people and shelter supplies for 14,000 refugee families
November 2023: On IDOS, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29), UNRWA USA held a nationwide vigil -- United for Gaza -- with Palestinian artists and allies.
October-December 2023: Palestinian photographer Motaz Azaiza, our freelance content creator, became widely known for showing the world what was happening in Gaza. In just three months, 18 million people followed him, helping to spread awareness globally
2023 impact
In 2023, UNRWA USA continued funding projects under our four technical pillars: 1) education and training, 2) health, 3) protection, and 4) emergency response.
Given the scale and scope of crises we faced, our funding focused heavily on emergency response. Yet, we continued the programs you know us for, like university scholarships for young adults and mental health support for children.
Through your generosity, we were able to grant more than $22 million to UNRWA, the UN agency, in 2023 (compared to $3.8 million in 2022).
unrwa usa’s work by pillars in 2023
Education
Our signature university scholarship program continued supporting more than 200 Palestinian undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. These scholarships cover tuition and fees, as well as provide funding for books and living expenses for Palestine refugee students in poverty. By creating educational opportunities, we’re building upon UNRWA’s long-standing focus on high-quality education.
Emergency Response: syria
Following the February 2023 earthquake in Syria, UNRWA USA supported 177 households with emergency housing assistance funds and provided critical shelter items to more than 250 additional families. Following the summer attacks on the Jenin refugee camp, occupied West Bank, by the Israeli military, UNRWA USA provided shelter repair assistance to over 200 families. As another Israeli military assault enveloped Gaza in the fall, the quick response from donors enabled UNRWA USA to secure UNRWA food assistance for more than 68,000 people and shelter supplies for 14,000 families.
Health
Generous donor support allowed UNRWA USA to build out and equip a new medical lab at UNRWA’s Iqleem Kharoub Health Centre in Lebanon, which serves a population of nearly 12,000 Palestine refugees. This new lab saves refugees from traveling long distances while sick just to access a proper diagnostic lab test. By having an on-site lab at the health center, patients can get results more quickly, with more reliable results.
Protection: orphan support
Because of the rapid escalation of violence in Gaza, UNRWA USA funded support for orphans was disrupted. This funding has been redeployed in 2024 to help support the at least 17,000 unaccompanied refugee children currently in Gaza.
Spotlight on Our Supporters
Mohammed Awad, Alla Awad & Walla Awad, Hasana Inc. Founders
“We knew we had to take action to help our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Growing up hearing about the challenges our parents faced as Palestinian refugees and how UNRWA supported them, we trusted their ability to deliver meaningful aid. Partnering with them, we mobilized our community in Atlanta and around the world to raise funds and remain committed to doing whatever it takes to make a lasting impact in Gaza.”
let’s talk unrwa
Let’s Talk UNRWA is a speaker series streamed live on UNRWA USA’s channels, offering an exclusive look into UNRWA’s work. This series provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from UNRWA staff, many of whom are refugees themselves.
In 2023, we facilitated discussions on preserving the stories of Palestine refugees, shared field insights from refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, highlighted the Syria earthquake response, explored advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, and emphasized YOUR role in supporting Palestine refugees—and much more.
Let’s Talk UNRWA will resume as a quarterly speaker series in the coming years.
Subscribe to UNRWA USA’s YouTube channel to know when we go live.
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 28: UNRWA on the Hill with William (Bill) Deere, Director of the UNRWA Representative Office of Washington (January 2023)
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 29: Syria Earthquake Response with UNRWA's Director of Affairs in Syria, Amanya Michael Ebye (February 2023)
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 30: International Women's Day with Rawya Hillis, UNRWA Gaza Training Centre (March 2023)
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 31: Preserving Palestine Refugee and Nakba Stories (May 2023)
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 32: Gaza Field Update (June 2023)
Let's Talk UNRWA Ep. 33: Jenin (July 2023)
Let’s Talk UNRWA Ep. 34: Field Insights Lebanon & Jordan (August 2023)
With Gratitude to Our 2023 Partners
Show your solidarity with Palestine refugees
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Become a Solidarity Sustainer
As an UNRWA USA Solidarity Sustainer, your monthly donation supports Palestine refugees wherever the need is greatest.
Your consistent contribution helps provide essential UNRWA services like healthcare, education, and emergency aid. Your recurring donations are crucial to the success of our organization, allowing us to respond quickly to the ever-evolving needs of Palestine refugees.
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Share your story and center Palestine refugee voices
UNRWA USA has launched a storytelling initiative to collect personal stories highlighting the importance of UNRWA and the resilience of Palestine refugees.
As part of this project, we invite guest writers to contribute to our Voices of UNRWA blog and share their voices with the world.
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Host an UNRWA USA fundraiser/friendraiser
Turn your passion into action by hosting a fundraiser or friendraiser for UNRWA USA, wherever you live. Arrange an event that resonates with your interests while aiding our mission.
Whether it’s a cozy gathering at home, a community event at your place of worship, or a simple bake sale, every effort—big or small—helps provide life-saving support for Palestine refugees.
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Include UNRWA USA in your estate planning
By remembering UNRWA USA in your legacy (will, living trust, or charitable bequest) today, you can ensure that UNRWA will be there for future generations of Palestine refugees until no longer needed.
You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, property, or item.
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Give your way
Maximize your charitable impact with smart giving options like workplace matching gifts, which can double or triple your donation, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for tax-free contributions if you're over 70½.
Consider donating appreciated assets like stocks or crypto to avoid capital gains tax while receiving a deduction.
2023 UNRWA USA finances
2023 statement of expenses
program allocation of funds sent to unrwa
Thanks for Making It All Possible
The past 14 months (October 2023-December 2024) have been the most devastating in our history and the darkest chapter for the Palestinian people. Together, we grieve the heartbreaking loss of hundreds of our UNRWA colleagues and the family members of our staff who were all tragically killed in Gaza. We honor their memories by remaining steadfast in our commitment to the mission they so deeply believed in—a mission they upheld with everything they had, even their lives.
Any achievements in 2023 were hard-won and were marked by profound loss. None of what we detailed in this report would have been possible without the extraordinary people who make up our community and stand with UNRWA USA in solidarity.
Amjad Shabat and Motaz Azaiza, our talented content producers from Gaza, have shown unparalleled courage and strength. After living through the unimaginable and being forced to leave their homes and evacuate Gaza, they continue to lend their creativity and storytelling brilliance to our work and their people as freelancers. Through their work, they’ve not only amplified the voices of Palestine refugees but also inspired global solidarity and understanding. We are honored to work alongside the two of you.
To our incredible UNRWA USA staff: you’re the ones who make it all happen. Day after day, you show up with heart, grit, and an unshakable drive to do the work and serve Palestine refugees. You turn ideas into action, plans into impact, and challenges into opportunities. Your hard work, dedication, and relentless energy keep the UNRWA USA mission moving forward and hope alive. We see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t do this without you.
To our UNRWA USA board: your principled leadership has been a beacon of strength during these challenging times. Your vision, strategic guidance, and steadfast commitment to our mission have been pivotal in addressing the immense and urgent needs of Palestine refugees. We are deeply grateful for your partnership, dedication, and the trust you place in our work, which continues to inspire and empower us to persevere.
To our amazing UNRWA USA volunteers, advocates, community partners, and influencers—thank you for showing up, sharing your energy, and amplifying our message. You are the heartbeat of this movement, proving that solidarity is action, and together, we can make change.
To our UNRWA USA Solidarity Sustainers, donors, and everyone who stands with us—your generosity shows Palestine refugees that Americans care. We will continue our mission together until it is no longer needed.
And to our implementing partner, UNRWA: your tens of thousands of frontline workers—teachers, doctors, nurses, and counselors, most of whom are refugees—are the real heroes. Every day, our UN colleagues on the ground save lives and serve their communities in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Your courage and sacrifice in the face of the unimaginable are extraordinary. We are honored to stand with you.
—UNRWA USA senior management team, December 2024