A view of demolished Al-Uyun neighborhood following Israeli attacks during sunset in Gaza City, Gaza, Palestine on October 31, 2026. [Saeed M. M. T. Jaras – Anadolu Agency]
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remains fully committed to defending the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and its critical work, a UN spokesman said Friday, Anadolu reports.
“I can tell you that the secretary-general is fully committed to defending UNRWA in the exercise of its fundamental role in support of Palestinian refugees,” Stephane Dujarric told supporters.
“He once again calls for UNRWA’s vital work to be fully funded.”
Dujarric’s remarks followed an UNRWA statement Thursday warning that unprecedented financial pressures, declining global contributions, and increasingly restrictive operating conditions are threatening its ability to maintain essential services.
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The agency said it currently faces an $80 million cash-flow deficit, while accumulated liabilities and recurring financial obligations pose longer-term challenges to its sustainability.
The UNRWA said it continues to provide education, healthcare, relief, and other essential services to Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation: Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Notably, in recent years, Israel has posed several legal, administrative, and practical challenges to UNRWA continuing its work in the occupied Palestinian territories.
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