UN Secretary-General António Guterres told an emergency General Assembly pledging conference that UNRWA faces imminent collapse and requires $100 million in donations to continue operating, according to the Abu Ali Express channel. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric described the agency's situation as an existential crisis, with results of the conference expected Wednesday. UNRWA reported receiving about $829 million of $887 million pledged in 2025, covering only 27% of its $3.3 billion funding needs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened an emergency pledging conference before the General Assembly on Wednesday morning, warning that the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is 'on the brink of collapse' and needs $100 million in donations urgently to continue operations, according to the Abu Ali Express channel. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric described the situation as an 'existential crisis,' with results of the conference expected on Wednesday.
UNRWA data for 2025 shows pledges of approximately $887 million, of which about $829 million was actually transferred — covering only 27% of the agency's total $3.3 billion funding requirements. The appeal comes amid ongoing criticism of UNRWA from Israel over alleged staff involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack, which led to the firing of dozens of employees and funding suspensions from several donor countries. Canada recently pledged an additional $100 million in aid for Palestinians, channeled through the UN and other organizations.
The agency's financial plight was described as acute, with Guterres emphasizing that without immediate funding, UNRWA cannot sustain its operations across Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The conference outcome remains pending.
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