UN chief says UN agency for Palestinian refugees nearing 'breaking point'

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is nearing a breaking point due to a $100 million funding shortfall and operational challenges caused by restrictions in occupied Palestinian territories. He called on countries to provide urgent financial support to sustain the agency's critical humanitarian work.

By Andrea Shalal June 30 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged countries to cover a $100 million gap in funding for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, saying the body was nearing a breaking point after deep cost-cutting and austerity measures. Guterres told an ad hoc meeting of the General Assembly on voluntary contributions that UNRWA's situation was increasingly precarious given sweeping restrictions throughout occupied Palestinian territory that impeded its work, and the large cash shortfall.