UNRWA faces funding crisis as UN chief warns of precarious situation for Palestinian refugees

U.N. Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres warned that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is in an increasingly precarious state, jeopardising the safety and well‑being of millions of Palestinian refugees. He highlighted the “absolutely horrific” conditions in Gaza, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, violence by Israeli settlers, and the fallout from Israel’s war in Lebanon. Guterres said the agency is confronting sweeping operational restrictions in occupied territories and a severe liquidity shortfall. Since the Oct. 7, 2023 conflict, 390 UNRWA staff have been killed in Gaza. Funding shortfalls have already forced reductions in services, and any further cuts could push the agency beyond the breaking point. Guterres called on donor countries to bridge an estimated $100 million gap, noting that current pledges of $887 million and contributions of $829 million would cover only about 27 % of the agency’s $3.3 billion annual needs. He described UNRWA as a stabilising force in a period of extreme instability.