# UNRWA, facing possible closure, keeps low profile and prepares drastic cuts

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/unrwa-facing-possible-closure-keeps-low-profile-and-prepares-drastic-cuts/
- Published: 2026-11-15T15:12:04+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T20:06:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Le Monde (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/11/15/unrwa-facing-possible-closure-keeps-low-profile-and-prepares-drastic-cuts_6781447_4.html
- Topics: Geopolitics, Middle East, Politics, World

## Key points

- UNRWA faces a $70 million cash-flow gap.
- Thousands of Palestinian staff could lose their jobs.
- Proposed cuts would reduce operations by 10% annually for five years.

## Summary

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, is preparing major cuts as it faces a severe cash shortage and political pressure from Israel and the United States. Its acting chief, Christian Saunders, has adopted a more restrained public tone, while the agency considers how to stay operational as support and prospects for a political resolution weaken.

UNRWA reported a $70 million cash-flow deficit and is considering laying off between 2,000 and 3,000 Palestinian staff, mainly in Gaza; a higher estimate of 3,000 to 4,000 was also discussed with donor representatives. Saunders has proposed reducing operations by 10% annually for five years across the agency’s five areas, after services and staff salaries were already cut by 20%. UNRWA serves about half of 6.5 million registered Palestinian refugees with education, health care and aid, and its mandate was renewed for three years in 2025.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.