UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that UNRWA's ability to serve Palestine refugees is in jeopardy as the agency faces operational restrictions and a $100 million cash shortfall.
At the annual ministerial meeting in support of UNRWA, Guterres said conditions in Gaza remain intolerable despite some relief following the ceasefire announced last October, with continued attacks killing an average of four people per day, children accounting for a quarter of those deaths.
The Secretary-General said UNRWA has been excluded from coordination meetings, Israel is no longer granting visas to its personnel and employees have faced intimidation, warning that the funding deficit threatens services relied upon by millions of Palestine refugees.
The General Assembly renewed UNRWA's mandate for three years in December, but Guterres said immediate political and financial support is required to protect the agency's ability to operate.