UNRWA Faces Severe Financial and Operational Challenges

近東救濟工程處 (UNRWA) 面臨嚴重財務與營運挑戰

Jun 30, 2026, 19:25
InternationalInternational

Introduction

High-level officials and diplomats have met at the General Assembly to discuss the serious funding shortages and political pressures that are currently hindering the work of UNRWA.

高層官員與外交官於大會上會面，討論目前阻礙 UNRWA 工作之嚴重資金短缺與政治壓力。

Main Body

The agency's ability to operate is currently threatened by a predicted $100 million budget deficit for 2026. Although the agency has introduced $175 million in cost-cutting measures, Commissioner-General Christian Saunders emphasized that these savings are not sustainable in the long term. Furthermore, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız stated that political campaigns are being used to challenge the organization's legitimacy. These problems are made worse by operational restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which UN leaders attribute to Israeli military actions and administrative closures.

該機構的運作能力目前受到威脅，預計 2026 年將出現 1 億美元的預算赤字。儘管該機構已推出 1.75 億美元的削減成本措施，但總署長 Christian Saunders 強調，這些節省在長期而言是不可持續的。此外，大使 Ahmet Yıldız 表示，政治宣傳正被用來挑戰該機構的合法性。而巴勒斯坦被佔領領土的營運限制使問題更加嚴重，聯合國領袖將其歸因於以色列的軍事行動與行政關閉。

Regarding the humanitarian situation, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that living conditions in the Gaza Strip have worsened due to damaged infrastructure and food shortages. In the West Bank, the agency highlighted that 33,000 residents have been displaced by military orders, marking the largest displacement of refugees since 1967. Additionally, the human cost has been very high, with reports that over 390 employees have been killed in Gaza since the start of the current conflict.

關於人道主義情況，秘書長 Antonio Guterres 指出，由於基礎設施損毀與食物短缺，加薩走廊的生活條件已惡化。在約旦河西岸，該機構強調有 33,000 名居民因軍方指令而被迫遷徙，這標誌著自 1967 年以來最大規模的難民遷移。此外，人力成本極高，據報導自本次衝突開始以來，加薩已有超過 390 名員工喪生。

Most stakeholders agree that the agency is essential for maintaining stability. The Palestinian envoy, Riyad Mansour, emphasized that the refugee crisis is a long-term issue, while Türkiye has confirmed its support with a $10 million donation for 2026. For the next decade, Saunders explained that the agency aims to reform its service model to reduce waste and improve financial stability, which is necessary to support a potential two-state political solution.

大多數利益相關者均認同該機構對於維持穩定至關重要。巴勒斯坦特使 Riyad Mansour 強調難民危機是一個長期問題，而土耳其已確認將捐贈 1,000 萬美元以支持 2026 年的運作。Saunders 解釋，在未來十年，該機構旨在改革其服務模式以減少浪費並提高財務穩定性，這對於支持潛在的「兩國方案」政治解決方案至關重要。

Conclusion

UNRWA remains essential for millions of refugees, but its survival depends on immediate financial support and the removal of operational barriers.

UNRWA 對於數百萬名難民而言依然至關重要，但其生存取決於能否獲得立即的財務支持以及消除營運障礙。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The "B2 Leap": From Simple Facts to Complex Connections

At the A2 level, you describe the world in simple sentences: "The agency has no money. The situation is bad." To reach B2, you must stop using simple sentences and start using Complex Connectors and Passive-style structures to sound more professional and precise.

🧩 The Logic of 'Furthermore' and 'Additionally'

In the text, we don't just see a list of problems. The author uses words that act like "bridges" to add more weight to an argument:

  • Furthermore →\rightarrow Use this when the second point is more important or more serious than the first.
  • Additionally →\rightarrow Use this to add a new piece of information that is equal in importance.

A2 Style: The agency has a deficit. Political campaigns are a problem. B2 Style: The agency faces a budget deficit; furthermore, political campaigns are challenging its legitimacy.

🏗️ The Power of "Passive-like" Verbs

B2 speakers focus on the result rather than the person. Look at these shifts from the article:

  1. "Are being used" (Present Continuous Passive)

    • A2: People use political campaigns to fight the agency.
    • B2: Political campaigns are being used to challenge the organization.
    • Why? It sounds more objective and formal. It focuses on the tool (campaigns), not the people.

  2. "Have been displaced" (Present Perfect Passive)

    • A2: Military orders moved 33,000 residents.
    • B2: 33,000 residents have been displaced by military orders.
    • Why? The focus is on the victims (residents), making the sentence more impactful.

🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: The 'Vague' to 'Precise' Pipeline

Stop using "bad" or "big." Use these B2-level alternatives found in the text:

Instead of... (A2)Use this... (B2)Example from Text
Bad / DifficultSevereSevere financial challenges
Stop / BlockHinderHinder the work of UNRWA
Not possibleNot sustainableSavings are not sustainable
ImportantEssentialThe agency is essential

Vocabulary Learning

hinder (v.)
To make it difficult for someone to do something or for something to happen.
Example:The lack of funding will hinder the agency's ability to provide medical aid.
deficit (n.)
The amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.
Example:The government is struggling to reduce the national budget deficit.
sustainable (adj.)
Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level over a long period of time.
Example:The current level of spending is not sustainable for the organization.
legitimacy (n.)
The quality of being legal, fair, or acceptable according to rules or standards.
Example:The opposition party questioned the legitimacy of the election results.
attribute (v.)
To say that something is the result of a particular cause.
Example:Economists attribute the rise in prices to the increase in fuel costs.
displaced (adj.)
Forced to leave their home, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Example:Thousands of displaced people are seeking shelter in temporary camps.
stakeholders (n.)
People or groups who have an interest or concern in a business, project, or organization.
Example:The company held a meeting to discuss the new policy with all key stakeholders.
reform (v.)
To make changes in something in order to improve it.
Example:The government plans to reform the healthcare system to make it more efficient.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→