ROME — UNRWA said on Thursday it had received new cash pledges to enable it to keep working for a few more months, but warned its long-term outlook remains in doubt.

The UN relief and works agency for Palestinian refugees is looking to cover an estimated $446 million budget shortfall that was largely caused by President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision in January to effectively freeze US aid to the Palestinians, Reuters said.

A donors’ conference, co-hosted by Jordan, Sweden and Egypt in Rome, drew promises from countries around the world of additional funds of some $100 million, leaving UNRWA with an uphill task to keep its core education, healthcare and food security services afloat.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi inaugurated the extraordinary ministerial conference, held at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In his opening remarks, he said: “Our meeting today comes in an exceptional circumstance, in which UNRWA faces a difficult financial crisis that threatens the right of millions of Palestinian refugees to live in dignity.”

He added: “Our action or inaction determines whether 500,000 Palestinian students that will be able to exercise their basic right to education in school, and if millions of Palestinians will continue to receive their right to medical treatment, or if more than 1 million Palestinian refugee men and women will continue to receive assistance to meet their living needs.”

“A very important first stop was reached today, but a long way is in front of us,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters after the meeting.

“If UNRWA did not exist, if its services were not provided, the security of the region would be undermined,” he added.

more:   http://jordantimes.com/news/local/unrwa-receives-new-cash-pledges-yet-insufficient-survival