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STORY: UN / UNRWA CONTRIBUTIONS
TRT: 04:33
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 30 JUNE 2026, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters
30 JUNE 2026, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Conference room
3. Med shot, Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, and UNRWA Chief Christian F. Saunders at the dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“For generations, Palestine refugees have counted on UNRWA for registration, emergency assistance, and essential public services. I commend Member States for their continued contributions and indispensable support. But the Agency’s situation is increasingly precarious. It faces sweeping restrictions throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and a cash shortfall that imperils its work across the region. Despite painful austerity and cost-control measures, a deficit of 100 million US dollars prevents the Agency from meeting its current obligations.”
5. Med shot, Saunders, Guterres and Baerbock at the dais
6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I am deeply concerned about UNRWA’s liquidity crisis, which jeopardizes its ability to implement its mandate. A mandate given by the General Assembly and renewed six months ago with overwhelming Member State support. A mandate that enables the provision of critical services to 2.6 million people in need. And a mandate that reflects the international community’s continuing responsibility towards Palestine refugees.”
7. Med shot, Saunders, Guterres and Baerbock at the dais
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President 80th General Assembly, United Nations:
“UNRWA was never meant to be permanent. Because its work is rooted in the promise of a lasting political settlement — the two-state solution. And it was never meant to serve what has now become three generations of Palestine refugees, with millions depending on its assistance, protection, and essential services every day. And it was never meant to become a substitute for the public institutions of a State. Yet that is the reality we face.”
9. Med shot, Saunders, Guterres and Baerbock at the dais
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President 80th General Assembly, United Nations:
“So today, we all make here at the podium a direct appeal: to governments—especially regional governments—to philanthropic foundations, to the private sector, and to individuals. Urgently increase your contributions. Sustain UNRWA’s schools. Help rebuild those that have been destroyed, especially in Gaza. Keep this lifeline intact—and with it, hope for 500,000 Palestinian children.”
11. Med shot, Saunders, Guterres and Baerbock at the dais
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian F. Saunders, Commissioner-General Ad Interim, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
“UNRWA has zero tolerance for any breach of neutrality, impartiality or indeed any form of misconduct. Our policy on outside and political activities makes very clear that while personal views and convictions are inviolable, in accordance with basic human rights, staff must uphold the United Nations values, principles and standards at all times. Staff are thus clearly and unequivocally prohibited from participating in activities or being a member of any militant or armed group.”
13. Med shot, Saunders, Guterres and Baerbock at the dais
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian F. Saunders, Commissioner-General Ad Interim, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
“Continuing to deliver UNRWA's mandate requires adapting to global political and financial realities. Protection will always remain central to our work, and we will retain our ability to respond effectively to humanitarian crisis. however, as part of the agency's reform, there will be a greater emphasis on development initiatives and sustainable livelihoods moving forward so as to give Palestinian refugees increased agency.”
15. Wide shot, Conference room
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Palestine:
“UNRWA has played and continues to play an indispensable role in alleviating the suffering of Palestine refugees through the provision of essential services, all while facing violent attacks and a malicious Israeli disinformation campaign against the agency, its facilities and its staff, in addition to the financial crisis that has reached unprecedented levels, threatening the continuity of life saving assistance and vital services and programs.”
17. Wide shot, applause
Addressing a meeting for voluntary contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Secretary-General António Guterres today (30 Jun) told Member States that the Agency’s situation “is increasingly precarious” as it faces “sweeping restrictions throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and a cash shortfall that imperils its work across the region.”
Despite “painful austerity and cost-control measures,” Guterres said, “a deficit of 100 million US dollars prevents the Agency from meeting its current obligations.”
The Secretary-General said he was “deeply concerned about UNRWA’s liquidity crisis,” which jeopardizes its ability to implement its own mandate.
The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, told the meeting that “UNRWA was never meant to be permanent,” as its work “is rooted in the promise of a lasting political settlement.”
Baerbock said “it was never meant to serve what has now become three generations of Palestine refugees, with millions depending on its assistance, protection, and essential services every day. And it was never meant to become a substitute for the public institutions of a State. Yet that is the reality we face.”
She appealed to governments, philanthropic foundations, the private sector, and individuals to “urgently increase your contributions. Sustain UNRWA’s schools. Help rebuild those that have been destroyed, especially in Gaza. Keep this lifeline intact—and with it, hope for 500,000 Palestinian children.”
UNRWA interim Chief, Christian F. Saunders said the agency “has zero tolerance for any breach of neutrality, impartiality or indeed any form of misconduct,” and added that “staff must uphold the United Nations values, principles and standards at all times.”
Saunders said staff “are thus clearly and unequivocally prohibited from participating in activities or being a member of any militant or armed group.”
He said, “continuing to deliver UNRWA's mandate requires adapting to global political and financial realities,” and pointed out that “there will be a greater emphasis on development initiatives and sustainable livelihoods moving forward so as to give Palestinian refugees increased agency.”
For his part, Palestine’s Ambassador Riyad Mansour said, “UNRWA has played and continues to play an indispensable role in alleviating the suffering of Palestine refugees through the provision of essential services, all while facing violent attacks and a malicious Israeli disinformation campaign against the agency, its facilities and its staff, in addition to the financial crisis that has reached unprecedented levels, threatening the continuity of life saving assistance and vital services and programs.”
Earlier this year, UNRWA was compelled to reduce its service delivery hours by 20 percent. That meant reducing salaries for most local personnel and keeping 15 percent of international posts of the Agency vacant.
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