PLO Official Says UNRWA Suffers Fiscal Crisis, Needs International Support

PLO Official Says UNRWA Suffers Fiscal Crisis, Needs International Support

A child stands next to a sack of flour as people come to receive food aid from a UNRWA distribution centre in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. (File photo: AFP)

Due to its persisting financial crisis, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has no longer been able to meet the growing needs of the Palestinian refugees, said Ahmad Abu Holi, the Head of the Refugees' Department in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Abu Holi said in a press statement published by WAFA news agency that UNRWA is suffering a financial deficit estimated at about $100 million in the budget of programs related to health, education, and relief for Palestinian refugees.

"The high rates of poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity among the Palestinian refugees require the international community to act to support it and provide sufficient and sustainable funding," Abu Holi said.

The financial crisis prompted the UN agency to borrow from other international institutions to pay the salaries of its employees for May, according to officials in the agency.

"The Arab's support for UNRWA will be the focus of discussion in the 108th session of the Conference of Supervisors of Palestinian Affairs, which will be held on Sunday at the Arab League (AL) in Cairo," he added.

UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 and was mandated to provide assistance and protection services including education, health care, relief, social services, camp infrastructure, improvement, protection and microfinance to some 5.7 million Palestine refugees.

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