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BERLIN

The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) faces a $200 million funding shortfall through the end of the year and can only guarantee operations until September, the agency's chief warned on Tuesday.

During a news conference in Berlin following meetings with German authorities, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini called for stronger support from Germany and international partners to maintain the agency's services for Palestinian refugees.

"My call and my plea to Germany is to remain committed to the agency in the foreseeable future—to help and to signal to the Palestinians that Germany and European countries have not turned their backs," he said.

"And I think it's important to signal that countries remain committed and involved, especially at a time when the plight and future of Palestinians are so uncertain," he added.

When asked about the agency's financial difficulties, Lazzarini said UNRWA, which provides essential services to Palestinians in occupied territories and across the region in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, faces a significant shortfall.

"The shortfall between now and the end of the year is about $200 million. As an agency, just to process the payroll of our staff, we need $60 million. So basically, we have no visibility anymore beyond September. Our situation is even more dire this year than the previous year," he said.

The UN agency has been facing severe financial difficulties since Israel launched a defamation campaign against UNRWA, claiming that some staff members were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks. Despite UNRWA's requests for the Israeli government to provide information and evidence substantiating these allegations, no response was received, according to the agency. Israel's accusations prompted several key donor nations, including the US, to suspend or pause funding.