Guterres warns of imminent UNRWA collapse, calls for urgent international intervention

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, issued a strong warning that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is on the verge of complete collapse. Guterres called on the international community to intervene immediately to bridge an urgent funding gap estimated at $100 million, stressing that the financial crisis now threatens vital operations on which millions of Palestinian families depend.

Guterres explained, during an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly dedicated to discussing voluntary contributions, that the agency's situation is deteriorating alarmingly due to comprehensive restrictions imposed in the occupied Palestinian territories. He pointed out that these obstacles, along with a severe shortage of financial resources, prevent the agency from performing its humanitarian, educational, and health tasks in its five areas of operation.

The international agency plays a pivotal role in providing aid and social services to approximately 2.6 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in addition to refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. These services include providing basic healthcare and education for thousands of students, as well as being the last resort for those affected by ongoing conflicts in the region.

Reports touched upon the crisis that began after the United States, historically the largest donor, decided to cut its funding in January 2024 based on accusations made by the occupation authorities against a number of employees. Although most international donors resumed their contributions after initial investigations, Sweden recently announced cutting its funding for 2025, further complicating the agency's financial landscape.

The Secretary-General affirmed that the current liquidity crisis has directly undermined UNRWA's ability to fulfill its legal and humanitarian obligations, which were renewed by the General Assembly six months ago. He stressed that the agency cannot continue to provide its services without sustainable and urgent financial support from member states, warning of the catastrophic repercussions of stopping these services on regional stability.

In a related context, Guterres indicated that the agency has implemented a series of structural reforms and updates in its policies related to external activities to ensure transparency and neutrality. These steps came in response to pressures and accusations against its employees, affirming the international organization's commitment to the highest standards of accountability and auditing in all its field operations.

Guterres expressed his categorical rejection of what he described as systematic disinformation and distortion campaigns aimed at undermining UNRWA's legitimacy and obstructing its diplomatic and operational work. He considered that these measures, including legislative restrictions and field obstacles, not only target the organization but also threaten the security and safety of millions of refugees who depend entirely on its aid.

The Secretary-General revealed a heavy toll of human losses among the agency's staff, with 390 employees killed in the Gaza Strip since the escalation erupted in October 2023. He affirmed that these employees paid with their lives to perform their humanitarian duty under harsh and unprecedented conditions, highlighting the extent of the sacrifices UNRWA makes in the field.

To address the deficit, the agency was forced to take harsh austerity measures, including a 20% reduction in service hours during the current year, in addition to cutting the salaries of local employees. The agency also left about 15% of international positions vacant in an attempt to save expenses, but Guterres warned that any further cuts would push the entire system towards collapse.

For his part, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described the current situation as an 'existential crisis' threatening the agency's survival as a relief entity. Official UNRWA data indicated that it has received only 27% of its total funding needs of $3.3 billion for 2025, which puts the international community to a real test to prevent a wider humanitarian catastrophe.

UNRWA represents a force for stability in an era of instability, and continuous efforts to undermine it through misinformation threaten the well-being of millions of Palestinians.