Date: 29/6/2026
On the Eve of the UNRWA Pledging Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
The Pledging Conference represents an important opportunity for donor countries to renew their political and financial commitment to UNRWA.
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Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, called on donor countries to provide additional and sustainable funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in order to help bridge the deficit in its programme budget and ensure the continued delivery of its essential services to Palestine refugees.
In a press statement issued today, Abu Holi expressed hope that the UNRWA Pledging Conference, which opens tomorrow morning, Tuesday, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, will result in new and additional financial pledges that will help cover the Agency's programme budget deficit for the current year, estimated at approximately USD 100 million.
He noted that the convening of the UNRWA Pledging Conference is in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1729 (XVI) concerning voluntary contributions to UNRWA. The conference will be attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, and Acting Commissioner-General of UNRWA Christian Saunders.
He explained that the conference is being held at a time when the Agency is facing unprecedented financial and operational challenges, amid growing humanitarian needs among Palestine refugees, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and continued pressure on its operations across its five fields of operation.
Abu Holi stressed that the Pledging Conference represents an important opportunity for donor countries to renew their political and financial commitment to UNRWA and translate their support for the Agency into additional financial contributions that would enable it to bridge its budget deficit and ensure the sustainability of its services and programmes across its five fields of operation, while safeguarding the rights of Palestine refugees and strengthening the Agency's financial stability.
He affirmed that providing the necessary funding for UNRWA is a political, legal, and moral responsibility that rests with the international community, calling on donor countries to honour their commitments, increase their financial contributions, and broaden the donor base in order to strengthen the Agency's financial stability and prevent recurring funding crises.
Abu Holi stressed that UNRWA plays an indispensable and irreplaceable role as a United Nations agency established pursuant to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302, and serves as the international witness to the cause of Palestine refugees until a just solution to their plight is achieved in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, foremost among them General Assembly Resolution 194.
He pointed out that the continued financial deficit threatens the Agency's ability to meet its obligations towards millions of Palestine refugees and undermines the sustainability of its education, health, relief, and social services. This requires urgent international action to secure adequate and sustainable funding, preserve the Agency's stability, and enable it to continue fulfilling its United Nations mandate without interruption.
Abu Holi reiterated that supporting UNRWA is an investment in regional security and stability and sends a clear message of upholding the international community's responsibility towards Palestine refugees and their rights until a just solution to their cause is achieved in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
