Washington, July 1 (SANA) U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that a severe funding shortfall could force the collapse of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), putting the livelihoods and safety of millions of Palestinians at risk.
Speaking at a donor conference for the U.N. agency, Guterres said UNRWA is facing broad restrictions across the occupied Palestinian territories and that an acute liquidity crisis threatens its ability to continue operating throughout the region.
He said the agency is being undermined through what he described as disinformation campaigns, legislative measures, operational restrictions and diplomatic obstacles imposed by Israel, warning that any further reduction in funding could push the situation beyond the breaking point.
UNRWA has scaled back its humanitarian and public services since the beginning of the year because of a funding crisis driven by reduced contributions from some donor countries and pressure from Israel, according to the agency.
N.J/ABD
