UN agency for Palestinian refugees fails to raise USD193 million

Associated Press

United Nations: Despite a dire warning from the UN chief that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees “is on the verge of financial collapse,” donors at a pledging conference on Friday provided just USD 107 million in new funds — significantly less than the USD 300 million it needs to keep helping millions of people.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the agency known as UNRWA, said he was grateful for the new pledges but they are below the funds needed to keep over 700 schools and 140 clinics open from September through December. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners, including host countries — the refugees’ top supporters — to raise the funds needed,” he said in a statement.

At the beginning of the year, UNRWA appealed for USD 1.6 billion for its programs, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the Israelioccupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Jordan. That includes nearly $850 million for its core budget, which includes running schools and health clinics. According to UNRWA, donors on Friday announced USD 812.3 million in pledges, but just USD 107.2 million were new contributions.

The countries pledging new funds were not announced. Lazzarini told a press conference on Thursday that UNRWA needs USD 150 million to keep all services running until the end of the year, and an additional USD 50 million to start 2024 without liabilities.