UNRWA is “beginning to sense the effect” of its $200-$211 million budget deficit this month, Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl said on Monday.
“We need $1.2 billion to provide our services adequately this year. So far, we have received 350 million. That has covered our expenses until May,” he said at a press conference for UNRWA’s advisory committee gathering at the Dead Sea.
After the US decided to cut its funding from $350 million to $60 million last year, citing “reforms” and “renewed Palestinians peace talks” as its reason, the agency was left with a $464 million deficit.
However, Krähenbühl said: “We have now lost the entirety of the US funding, including the $60 million,” adding that “despite the current deficit; the agency’s ability to decrease the gap to $200 million was a great achievement”.
With 28 donors in attendance, UNRWA stressed its need for “political and financial support” to continue its services for refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
He commended the efforts of Jordan and His Majesty King Abdullah for their support over the past 18 months, saying Jordan has “advocated for the agency”.
