'UNRWA in imminent cash crisis'

AMMAN — UNRWA’s budget is "almost exclusively funded by voluntary contributions and regrettably, income that had been anticipated to be received in January 2018 has not been received" leaving the agency with an imminent cash crisis, a statement from the UN agency said on Monday.

UNRWA’s management has prioritised payments to provide cash assistance to the most vulnerable enrolled in the Social Safety Net, payments for the procurement of vital medical supplies for the clinics, the reimbursement of hospitalisation costs for those in need of assistance, settling invoices from vendors who have provided goods in 2017 and protecting staff holding fixed-term contracts, according to the statement.

Given all of the above priorities and the lack of cash, UNRWA has unfortunately had to stop a number of daily paid workers who had thus far been contracted on a daily paid basis to complement the work of the staff who are employed on a full-time basis, read the statement. The agency continues a dialogue with the host government, in particular through dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will continue regular assessment of all measures, concluded the statement.