UN Palestinian agency turns to Gulf countries to avoid funding crisis

The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency on Tuesday urged Gulf countries to donate millions to help UNRWA avoid a funding crisis.

Last year, the agency was hit by a major funding crisis that threatened to affect the opening of schools.

An appeal by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to donors helped resolve the crisis, but the agency still has a funding gap of some $80 million.

“We’d be very appreciative to have countries that have come forward last summer to help, and in particular three Gulf states –- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait -– renew their generosity this year,” said Pierre Krahenbul, UNRWA’s commissioner-general.

“If we could have that, we’d be able to avoid another crisis this summer,” he said.