UN chief fears for ‘millions’ of Palestinians amid UNRWA funding shortfall

Antonio Guterres denounces ‘disinformation, smear campaigns’ against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on countries to cover a $100m gap in funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, ⁠saying that millions of people are at risk due to the shortfall.The UN chief said on Tuesday that UNRWA’s situation was increasingly precarious due to the large funding shortfall and sweeping restrictions by Israel on the agency’s work throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4North Korea’s Kim hails ‘unshakeable will’ to develop ties with China’s Xilist 2 of 4US lifts restrictions on Anthropic’s powerful AI models Fable and Mythoslist 3 of 4‘A rally like none other’: Trump unveils 2026 Republican midterm conventionlist 4 of 4Mbappe, Messi, Haaland: Who’s leading the race for the World Cup’s Golden Boot?end of list“As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance,” Guterres told a donor conference on the UN agency.Guterres referred to the “utterly appalling” living conditions in Gaza, violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where many Palestinian refugees have sought shelter.“[UNRWA] faces sweeping restrictions throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. And a cash shortfall that imperils its work across the region,” he said.Because of insufficient funding, UNRWA, which was created by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1949 to help Palestinians forced from their homes at the founding of Israel, has been forced to scale back its operations.The secretary-general said that further funding cuts for UNRWA could “push conditions beyond breaking point”.UNRWA works in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to 2.6 million Palestinian refugees.The United States was UNRWA’s biggest donor but cut funding in January 2024 after Israel alleged – without providing evidence – that a small number of UNRWA staff took part in the deadly October 7, 2023, ‌attack by Hamas on southern Israel.