UN refugee agency slashes budget deficit despite US cuts

AMMAN, Nov. 19 -- The UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday said it managed to slash its budget deficit despite US funding cuts earlier this year.

UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl made the remarks Monday as UNRWA's second Advisory Commission Meeting of 2018 was held in Jordan's capital Amman.

The UN official said in a statement that the agency was able to overcome the financial challenges this year due to the support of many countries.

The UN agency had faced a budget shortfall of 446 million US dollars, which was reduced to 21 million dollars after getting support of many donor countries, the UN official said.

The unexpected decision by the US to cut 300 million dollars in aid to UNRWA this year had increased the challenges, but the agency was able to handle the situation, he said.

In August, US President Donald Trump said the US will end all funding to UNRWA, which triggered condemnations and protests in many countries including Jordan.

The UN agency official said all UNRWA schools in the five operation zones managed to start the scholastic year on time in spite of the US cuts in aid.

Krahenbuhl called on the international community to continue its support to the UN agency due to the important role it plays.

Slamming the US decision, Jordan in August called for political and financial support from the Arab world to keep the UNRWA working.

Jordan also called for a meeting to be held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in a bid to mobilize political and financial support for the UNRWA.