UN Seeks $100 Million to Support Palestinian Refugees Amid Funding Crisis

International Desk: PNN

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on member states to fill a $100 million funding gap for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is facing a severe financial crisis.

Speaking at a donor conference, he warned that funding shortages and restrictions in occupied Palestinian territories imposed by Israel are severely hindering UNRWA operations. Millions of Palestinian refugees are at risk as a result.

Guterres described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “extremely dire,” adding that violence in the West Bank and Lebanon is worsening conditions further. He warned that without adequate funding, UNRWA may be forced to significantly reduce services.

UNRWA currently provides education, healthcare, food assistance, and shelter to around 2.6 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

He noted that the United States, once the largest donor, suspended funding in January 2024, worsening the crisis.

Guterres said the current situation is not only financial but also political, involving misinformation and restrictions that undermine the agency’s work.

Several countries, including Turkey, have expressed support for UNRWA, saying pressure on the agency violates international law and harms Palestinian refugee rights.