United Nations could run out of money to pay staff by next month, amid worst cash crisis of the decade
- Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns ‘our work and our reforms are at risk’ if member states do not pay what they owe
- UN was able to support last month’s world leaders’ summit only because of spending cuts made since January
The United Nations may not have enough money for staff salaries next month if member states do not pay what they owe, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday.
He told the 193-member UN General Assembly’s budget committee that if he had not worked since January to cut spending then “we would not have had the liquidity to support” the annual gathering of world leaders last month.
“This month, we will reach the deepest deficit of the decade. We risk … entering November without enough cash to cover payrolls,” said Guterres. “Our work and our reforms are at risk.”
The United States is the largest contributor – responsible for 22 per cent of the more than US$3.3 billion regular budget for 2019, which pays for work including political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic and social affairs and communications.
Washington owes some US$381 million for prior regular budgets and US$674 million for the 2019 regular budget. The US mission to the United Nations confirmed the figures. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when it might pay.
US President Donald Trump has said Washington is shouldering an unfair burden of the cost of the United Nations and has pushed for reforms of the world body. Guterres has been working to improve UN operations and cut costs.