UNRWA Representative Office for Europe: Our Experience | Catarina Neves & Toon Van Parys

Dear LinkedIn network,

Long time no post! ?? And now I come back with an article co-authored by my wonderful colleague Toon Van Parys , to reflect on what we can surely say was one of the most challenging but also fulfilling and interesting experiences of our careers: working at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA ) Representative Office for Europe (ROE), in Brussels. ????????????

An experience like ours can be difficult to put into words: we have worked under the most difficult circumstances UNRWA has ever worked in. As one of the oldest United Nations agencies, times of crisis are not uncommon to UNRWA — but none of them compare to the past nine months. The horrors Palestine refugees have been subjected to are immeasurable and will impact the region and the world for years to come. Without UNRWA, such horrors would have been far graver. When the bombs are silenced, UNRWA will still be there to feed, educate and rebuild Gaza. And lest we forget the valuable assistance provided by the Agency in its other areas of operation throughout the Middle East region, namely in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). UNRWA provides protection, assistance and basic education and health services to millions of Palestine refugees until a solution to the conflict is found. Its work is far more reaching than its history and name make it seem, but always with the same purpose at heart: assisting one of the most vulnerable refugee communities in the world.

Our journey, however, starts a few thousand kilometres away from UNRWA’s areas of operation. A huge part of UNRWA’s resources are agreed upon and decided in cities like Brussels, where crucial financial and political support resides. The support of the international community — such as the European Union and its Member States — is vital, especially as UNRWA relies on voluntary contributions. These are then channelled into programmes on education, health and aid assistance throughout the Middle East region.

It was precisely on these issues that we supported UNRWA’s Brussels team. From advocating for the cause of Palestine refugees next to European institutions to coordinating outreach missions to countries all over Europe, there was never a dull day in the office. We monitored European media on relevant issues, staying up-to-date with daily developments, international policymaking and key continent-wide debates on the conflict. We produced social media content to tell the story of the Agency and its work in Europe; and experienced how a UN agency handles emergency communication.

This experience was also marked by a fair share of high-level meetings, among which we had the opportunity to meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres , UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Nathalie Boucly, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenar?i?, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib , and Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation and Urban Policy Caroline Gennez . Having the privilege to work during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024 , with Members of the European Parliament across the political spectrum, and to follow major humanitarian events such as the European Humanitarian Forum and the Brussels Syria Conference, was truly an honour.

We would like to express our utmost gratitude to the UNRWA ROE team — including our former colleague, the amazing Elisa Fatou Camara — for all the guidance, patience, knowledge and wisdom; for allowing us to contribute with ideas and for exposing us to such a wide range of experiences. If all teams working in the humanitarian field were as committed and inspiring as this one, the world would surely be a better place.

Last but not least, we would also like to thank the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office for the FTP Flanders Trainee Programme scholarship that made our internships possible. We are incredibly thankful to the Flemish Community for contributing to this opportunity and for its continued support to UNRWA.

Now, as we part ways, we will certainly bring with us everything that this team and the resilience of Palestine refugees have taught us. Our hearts go out to all of those suffering as a consequence of this conflict, both in Gaza and beyond.