Guterres Calls For Urgent Funding For UNRWA

NEW YORK, July 1 (NNN-dpa) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres has called on member states to close a US$100-million cash shortfall at the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Despite painful austerity and cost-control measures, the deficit was preventing the agency from meeting its current obligations, Guterres told a donor conference for UNRWA in New York on Tuesday.

“They cannot keep going like this without urgent backing and financial support from member states,” he said.

The UN established UNRWA in 1949 to help around 700,000 Palestinian refugees.

Palestinians who fled or were displaced during the wars of 1948 and 1967, as well as their descendants, are eligible for its services.

According to UNRWA, around 5.9 million people now fall under its mandate, with the number continuing to rise.

The agency also operates in Jordan and Lebanon, among other places.

UNRWA has faced allegations that some of its employees were involved in the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Israeli claims, 12 of UNRWA's roughly 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip were involved in the attacks.

Guterres said the agency's situation was becoming increasingly precarious.

“I am appalled by continuing efforts to marginalize and undermine UNRWA. Through disinformation. Smear campaigns. Legislative actions. Operational restrictions. Diplomatic roadblocks. And more,” he said.

He said such actions threatened the well-being of millions of Palestinians.

UNRWA said it received around US$887 million in pledges and US$829 million in contributions in 2025, covering only 27 per cent of its total funding requirement of US$3.3 billion.

The United States (US), previously the agency's most important donor, halted its support in early 2025.

-- NNN-BERNAMA-dpa