New York:United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres has appealed to Member States for urgent political and financial support to safeguard the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He warned that the agency's ability to continue its essential services for millions of Palestine refugees is at risk.

According to Emirates News Agency, Guterres delivered his remarks during a ministerial meeting supporting UNRWA at the UN Headquarters in New York, held alongside the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that Palestine refugees are facing severe and ongoing challenges across the region.

In his address, Guterres highlighted the dire living conditions in Gaza, where families struggle to secure basic needs such as safety, shelter, food, clean water, education, and healthcare. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians encounter persistent settler violence, settlement expansion, and the looming threat of annexation, which Guterres stated would flagrantly breach international law.

Guterres underscored UNRWA's role as a crucial stabilizing entity in the region, delivering vital public services relied upon by millions of Palestinian refugees. The agency's personnel, including doctors, nurses, teachers, and engineers, provide indispensable services. In Gaza, UNRWA is the main provider of primary healthcare, conducting immunization campaigns, nutrition screenings, and water quality tests, among other essential operations.

He also pointed to challenges in occupied East Jerusalem, where UNRWA facilities have faced seizures, demolitions, and disruptions to water and electricity services. Additionally, Israeli authorities have entered the Kalandia Training Centre, a long-established vocational training site operated by the agency.

Addressing UNRWA's financial difficulties, Guterres warned of a severe liquidity crisis, with a $100 million deficit hindering the agency's ability to fulfill its obligations. He stressed the urgent need for Member States to provide necessary financial resources immediately, rather than delaying support.