Putting the education of Palestinian children at risk is unacceptable, according to a senior official of the UN agency which supports Palestine refugees, UNRWA.

UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Sandra Mitchell said the money needed to open schools on time for half a million Palestinian children has not been forthcoming.

She said the agency does not have the cash on hand to pay the salaries from September through December of more than 22,000 teachers at its 700 schools in the Middle East.

An emergency session with donors and host governments in late July has not alleviated UNRWA’s US$101 million deficit.

Ms Mitchell spoke to Milina Shaheen about the agency’s dire financial situation.

Duration: 3’48”