UN chief says agency for Palestinian refugees is "at its limit"
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on United Nations countries to cover a $100 million shortfall in investment for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), stating that the entity was close to its limit after drastic investment cuts and austerity measures.
Hezbollah leader rejects agreement between Lebanon and Israel | CNN PRIME TIME
Guterres stated at an emergency meeting of the general assembly of voluntary contributions that the situation of UNRWA was increasingly precarious due to restrictions imposed in the occupied Palestinian territory, which prevented the agency from functioning and generated a shortage of investment.
The United Nations assistance group operates in the West Bank, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, providing support, education, health support, social services and shelter to 2.6 million Palestinians.
The United States was the main donor to UNRWA, but the country cut its investment in January 2024 after Israel accused agency officials of being part of the attack on October 7, 2023, orchestrated by agents of Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, an event that served as a trigger for the War in Gaza.
Sweden had also cut its investments in 2025, along with other major donors, as a result of the investigations into Hamas.
Guterres stated that the agency's liquidity crisis put at risk its ability to fulfill its mandate, which was renewed by the General Assembly six months ago with broad support from member states.
"They cannot continue like this without urgent support and financial support from Member States," said Guterres, highlighting that the agency had taken decisive steps to implement reforms and update its policy on external and political activities, following the accusations made by Israel.
"UNRWA is a stabilizing force in an era of instability," he said, rejecting what he called ongoing efforts to undermine the agency through "disinformation, smear campaigns, legislative actions, operational restrictions, diplomatic obstacles and more."
Such actions threatened the well-being of millions of Palestinians as well as UNRWA staff, says Guterres, noting that 390 members of the group have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. He highlighted that a thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire announced in October.
Reduction in service provision
The UN reported having fired nine UNRWA employees who could have been involved in the October 2023 attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreign citizens. It was also discovered that a Hamas commander in Lebanon, killed by Israeli agents in September, held a job with UNRWA.
The UN disputed the existence of links with Hamas and promised to investigate all allegations.
UNRWA has reduced service delivery hours by 20% this year, cutting salaries for local staff and keeping 15% of international positions vacant, Guterres said, adding: "Any further cuts could push the situation to the brink of collapse."
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the agency was facing a crisis. He said the results of the emergency meeting on voluntary contributions would be announced on Wednesday.
In 2025, UNRWA received about US$887 million in pledges and US$829 million in actual contributions, according to its website, which represents just 27% of the total funding need, estimated at US$3.3 billion.
UN Commission points to genocide in Gaza with Israeli attacks on children
Source: CNN