UNRWA’s media spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna on Saturday warned that the critical financial crisis UNRWA is going through threatens stability in the region.
Abu Hasna said in statements to the PIC that UNRWA will hold an international conference to discuss its financial crisis on 15th March in Rome in the presence of UN Secretary General António Guterres all donor countries the countries hosting Palestinian refugees and members of the advisory committee.
He affirmed that the conference will address the unprecedented financial deficit faced by the UN Agency which threatens its operations and services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA provides its services to over five million Palestinian refugees who receive humanitarian aid half a million students in 700 schools and about 150 medical clinics in five locations including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The European Union the second largest contributor to UNRWA’s budget after the US will take part in the international conference.
The conference is an important step in response to the US decision to withhold $65 million that was to be paid in early 2018 to UNRWA.
In February 2018 a bilateral meeting was held between UNRWA’s Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl and the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in which they affirmed their strong commitment to serving the Palestinian refugees.
Krähenbühl had earlier announced the launch of an international campaign entitled “Dignity is Priceless” to support UNRWA in view of the US cuts in its funds to the UN Agency.
