Philip Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, sent a letter to the UNRWA’s employees saying that the Agency is going to have to postpone the payment of December’s salaries due to existing financial constraints.  

The UNRWA needs $18m to pay the salaries of the employees in the 5 areas where it operates. He also said that they are working with donor and friendly states to fill the deficit and continue to offer its health and educational services to the Palestinian refugees.

However, the political situation has greatly influenced the ability of some donor states to give aids. He also stressed that they are still working with all partners to early use the donations set for 2021 and to provide extra funds early next year.

The UNRWA is trying to persuade the countries which had not offered tangible donations to become more supporting, but this will take sometime. The coming months will remain difficult to handle.

For 2021, the UNRWA will send off $84m commitments, which it could not cover this year.