The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has issued an urgent warning about a deepening financial crisis that threatens to halt its humanitarian operations by the end of the year.

In a press statement on Monday, UNRWA’s media advisor, Adnan Abu Hasna, revealed that the agency is grappling with a critical funding gap estimated at $200 million, a shortfall that impacts not only its work in Gaza and the West Bank but also its operations across East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

“This is not just UNRWA’s problem—it’s a shared international responsibility,” Abu Hasna stressed, calling on all UN General Assembly member states to take immediate action to help sustain the agency’s vital programs.

He warned that without urgent financial support, UNRWA’s services may cease as early as the end of June, raising alarms over the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees who rely on the agency for basic needs.

UNRWA, which depends almost entirely on voluntary contributions from member states, provides critical support to over 5 million Palestinian refugees. Its services include education, healthcare, food assistance, infrastructure development, community support, microfinance programs, and emergency relief, particularly during periods of conflict and displacement.

The agency’s financial instability has been a recurring challenge in recent years, exacerbated by shifting donor priorities and regional instability. This latest crisis has sparked renewed calls from humanitarian organizations and advocacy groups for sustained, predictable funding to protect essential services for vulnerable Palestinian communities. (ILKHA)