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Palestine agency faces worst funding crisis in 68-year existence

THE United States decision to slash funding for the UN relief agency for Palestinians risks deep cuts to services that could “push the suffering in disastrous and unpredictable directions,” secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned yesterday.

The UNRWA agency faces a £360 million budget black hole, which was made worse by the US decision.

The US had been the  largest UNRWA donor and announced in January that it would cut £45m this year. However, the agency said the true loss was about £215m as the US had initially promised a total of £260m.

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