The United Nations has a deficit of $ 230 million, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday, and could run out of money at the end of October.
In a letter addressed to the 37,000 employees of the UN secretariat and obtained by AFP, Guterres said that "additional provisional measures" not specified would have to be taken to ensure that wages and rights are paid.
"Member States have paid only 70 percent of the total amount needed for our regular budget operations in 2019. This translates into a cash shortage of $ 230 million at the end of September. We run the risk of depleting our liquidity reserves. backup for the end of the month, "he wrote.
To reduce costs, Guterres mentioned postponing conferences and meetings and reducing services, while restricting official travel to only essential activities and taking measures to save energy.
Guterres had asked member states earlier this year to increase contributions to the global body to avoid cash flow problems, but they refused, a UN official said on condition of anonymity.
"The ultimate responsibility for our financial health lies with the Member States," said Guterres.
Excluding what you pay for peacekeeping operations, the UN operating budget for 2018-2019 is about $ 5.4 billion, with the United States contributing 22 percent.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1509706/un-may-run-out-of-money-by-end-of-the-month-guterres