UN Secretary-General António Guterres is pressing member states for political and financial backing of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), calling the organization a "critical presence" and stating he is counting on governments for "unwavering political and financial support," according to open-source intelligence monitoring.
The appeal comes as donor nations increasingly redirect Palestinian aid through alternative channels. Finland announced in August it would not renew its multi-year funding agreement with UNRWA, instead channeling aid through the World Food Programme and other organizations. Israel's Foreign Ministry welcomed the Finnish decision, noting it was "good to see more countries following suit."
