UNRWA facing the ‘worst crisis ever’
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Monday appealed for funds to tackle an unprecedented financial crisis caused by the US scrapping contributions.
“We still need $200 million (Dh734 million) to tackle the deficit this year,” UNRWA commissioner general Pierre Krahenbuhl told a news conference in Cairo. While UNRWA has experienced many types of crisis since it was created... in financial terms... this is the worst crisis ever faced,” he said.
The United States was the biggest contributor to the agency’s budget in 2017, donating $350 million.
The US State Department said last month it would no longer fund UNRWA because it was “irredeemably flawed”.
To help plug the shortfall, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have said they will contribute $50 million each, Krahenbuhl said.
He added he was hopeful China, Japan, India and European countries would also contribute funds.
Krahenbuhl on Monday met Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Arab League chief Ahmad Abul Gheit.
Arab countries “will not permit the dismantling of UNRWA”, a statement by the League said.
Yesterday, the Arab League met in Cairo for a summit — attended by Krahenbuhl — devoted largely to UNRWA.
UNRWA has provided essential aid to millions of Palestinians since it was established nearly 70 years ago, just after the war surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948.