UNITED NATIONS: António Guterres on Tuesday appealed to member states to urgently close a $100 million funding gap facing United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), warning that millions of Palestinian refugees risk losing access to essential services.
Addressing a donor conference, Guterres said the agency’s financial crisis, coupled with Israeli restrictions on its operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, had placed its humanitarian mission in jeopardy.
Why is UNRWA facing a funding crisis?
Guterres said UNRWA is confronting a severe cash shortfall that threatens its ability to continue providing education, healthcare, food assistance, shelter and other essential services across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
“As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance,” Guterres told the conference.
He warned that further reductions in funding could push humanitarian conditions “beyond breaking point.”
What challenges is the agency facing?
The UN chief described conditions in Gaza as “utterly appalling” and expressed concern over violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank as well as Israeli military operations in Lebanon, where many Palestinian refugees have sought refuge.
He also said UNRWA continues to face operational restrictions imposed by Israel throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
Why did UNRWA lose funding?
The United States, previously UNRWA’s largest donor, suspended funding in January 2024 after Israel alleged that a small number of agency employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
A subsequent investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services concluded that nine UNRWA employees may have been involved, while finding either no evidence or insufficient evidence against the remaining 10 staff members identified by Israel.
Guterres said UNRWA has since introduced reforms and strengthened its policies governing staff conduct and political activities.
What did Guterres call for?
The UN secretary-general urged member states to provide immediate financial support, saying the agency cannot continue operating without urgent assistance.
He also criticised what he described as sustained efforts to undermine UNRWA through disinformation campaigns, legislative measures, diplomatic pressure and operational restrictions.
Guterres said 390 UNRWA personnel have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, underscoring the risks faced by the agency’s staff during the conflict.
What happens next?
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the outcome of the donor conference and voluntary funding commitments from member states are expected to be announced on Wednesday.
At the conference, Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ahmet Yildiz, also called for continued international support for UNRWA, describing the agency as essential to assisting Palestinian refugees amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.