The UN agency for “Palestinian refugees”, UNRWA, on Tuesday announced a $1.6 billion funding appeal to help counter what it described as "chronic" budget shortfalls.
"Chronic agency budget shortfalls threaten the livelihoods and well-being of the Palestine refugees that UNRWA serves and pose a serious threat to the agency's ability to maintain services," agency head Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement quoted by AFP.