UNRWA chief says cash crunch has eased as nearly all donors resume funding

GENEVA — The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says that most of its donors have resumed funding and new ones have emerged, so it has enough cash through the end of August but faces a shortfall of up to $140 million by year-end.

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, says an independent review of its operations has helped rebuild trust in the agency, which has broadened its donor base by adding contributor countries such as Algeria, Iraq, Jordan and Oman as well as individual giving from Singapore.

Speaking to reporters at the UN office in Geneva, Lazzarini says aid delivery is becoming “more and more complicated” and crossings into Gaza are far short of what’s needed need and looting of delivery trucks is happening too often.

Israel’s allegations early this year that a dozen of UNRWA’s staffers had taken part in the October 7 attacks led to the suspension of contributions by the United States and more than a dozen other countries. All but the US and Britain have resumed their funding.

UN Secretary-General Antonio tapped a former French foreign minister to lead a team that issued a report that reviewed UNRWA’s neutrality, and the results of an internal investigation are pending.