This blog post is written by UNRWA USA’s communications intern, Eli Greenstein

Amidst the ongoing sheer devastation in the Gaza Strip, World Refugee Day weighs heavily on our hearts.

On June 20th, UNRWA USA supporters and allies gathered virtually to commemorate World Refugee Day and to honor the resilience and strength of refugees around the world. As we heard from our refugee panelists, all of whom grew up receiving direct assistance from UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, we were reminded of how critical it is for us Americans to come together to advocate and stand together as a community in support of refugees. This is especially important in Gaza, where the services of UNRWA are most in need.

The virtual program opened and closed with a touching surprise performance by a well-known musical group from Gaza; SOL Band, with members Rahaf Shamaly, Saeed Fadel, Hamada Nasrallah, and Abood Qasim. The band performed Gaza al-Hilwa, and the beauty of the song reflected the collective strength of Palestinians through the most unimaginable of circumstances.

This performance on World Refugee Day was the first for SOL Band following their evacuation from Gaza to Qatar in April amidst the ongoing aggression.

Our storytellers, Ahmed Arafat, Rania Qawasma, Ihmayed Ali, and Raed Sharif, all members of the UNRWA USA Refugee Advisory Council, shared their personal connections to the UN agency and how UNRWA has shaped their journeys, lives, and careers. 

Each panelist began by sharing their own family’s Nakba story: the experience of their parents and grandparents during 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes. Many, including Raed's family, left their belongings expecting to return after just a few days. Others, like Ihmayed’s, found themselves in overcrowded refugee camps, struggling with limited resources and harsh conditions. Preserving these stories reminds us of the critical reason UNRWA was established in 1949: “to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.”

Sanctuaries of learning and hope

Speaking of his experience in elementary school, Ahmed said: "The [UNRWA] school became a sanctuary.” School was not only a safe place to learn, it was a place where children could get medical treatment and food. Beyond academics, UNRWA schools provide a crucial support system where dedicated teachers, who are refugees themselves, inspire a love of learning; this leads to empowered futures well beyond the refugee camps.

Rania described her career as an architect being directly influenced by her UNRWA teacher, who encouraged her to make sketches of homes that residents of her refugee camp might live in someday. Today, Rania designs affordable housing for underprivileged communities in the United States, and centers social justice and equity in all of her work. 

For Ihmayed, who was born in Lebanon, UNRWA schools introduced him to a lifelong passion for education. After being educated at UNRWA’s Vocational Education College in Siblin, Lebanon, Ihmayed went on to serve as an Educational Specialist at UNRWA’s headquarters in Amman, Jordan, and now lives and works in Canada as a biomedical engineer. Ihmayed credited UNRWA as a gateway towards a life of education and service. Each of Ihmayed’s 3 children are now master’s degree holders and computer scientists, continuing his and UNRWA’s legacy of academic excellence and professional success. 

Similarly, Raed described how UNRWA schools gave him a sense of confidence. Even after leaving Gaza when he was 18 years old, Raed leveraged the principles learned in his UNRWA school throughout his career.

He said: “[UNRWA] didn’t mean for me to thank them 40 years later, but I am one of thousands around the world who think the same.”

A history and legacy of support

Since the Nakba in 1948 and UNRWA’s establishment, the UN agency has been at the forefront of all aspects of public livelihood for Palestine refugees. It has long served as the only source of humanitarian assistance for Palestine refugees. Each panelist highlighted different UNRWA services that have had long-lasting effects on each of their lives.

In addition to material services like healthcare and education, Rania pointed out the crucial sense of empowerment that UNRWA gives to refugees. UNRWA shows refugees that it is possible to break barriers, to excel. For a people facing so much adversity and loss, UNRWA gives inspiration and empowerment to those who need it most. 

Another legacy of UNRWA, Raed pointed out, is the sense of decency that UNRWA employees are given by serving their own communities and being role models for younger generations. Through teaching or working for UNRWA, refugees are able to live in dignity and with purpose.

Supporting UNRWA in a time of crisis

Over the past 8 months, we have watched in horror at the horrendous loss of life and widespread destruction in Gaza. As of June 10th, 187 UNRWA installations have been damaged or destroyed and 193 UNRWA staff killed. The UNRWA schools that were a safe haven for children in Gaza are no longer safe, and many can no longer function at all. As a result, UNRWA is one of the only healthcare providers that Gazans have left for services that many of us take for granted. With government cuts to UNRWA’s funding, even those services are wearing thin. 

Each of our panelists repeatedly described UNRWA as being integral to their everyday lives. For our panelists, and so many others, UNRWA is much more than a humanitarian agency; it is a beacon of hope, support, a source of livelihood, and a lifeline for those who need it most.    

What Americans can do right now for UNRWA

Earlier this year, the United States made the political decision to suspend funding for UNRWA until March 2025. On June 28th, a provision to extend this suspension of funding was advanced in the House of Representatives. This devastating move has direct and dire implications for Palestinians in Gaza and all Palestine refugees across the region who rely on UNRWA for survival. We urge you to stand with Palestine refugees. Advocate for UNRWA to your elected officials and urge for the reinstatement of US government funding for UNRWA.

It is important that we share refugee stories like the ones from our World Refugee Day commemoration with the world. Through the sharing of stories, we can help underscore that it is absolutely necessary to protect UNRWA and ensure that it can uphold its standards of wellbeing for Palestine refugees across the Middle East. 

Near the end of the event, Raed spoke pained, as he recalled the distinct scent of the trees behind his elementary school in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza and added that the trees, and the school itself, no longer exist after an intense aerial bombardment last month that destroyed the camp. Supporting UNRWA can help keep alive the memories of countless others like Raed, ensuring that the smell of those trees is not just a memory, but a promise of hope, dignity, and a better future.