The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Fri, December 6, 2019 | 18:04
Americas
UN faces worst cash crisis in decade
Posted : 2019-10-09 20:31
Updated : 2019-10-09 20:31
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations is facing its 'worst cash crisis' in nearly a decade because 64 of its 193 members have not paid their annual dues, including the United States, the largest contributor. AP
In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations is facing its "worst cash crisis" in nearly a decade because 64 of its 193 members have not paid their annual dues, including the United States, the largest contributor. AP

The United Nations may not have enough money for staff salaries next month if member states don't pay what they owe, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday.

He told the 193-member U.N. 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 percent of the more than $3.3 billion regular budget for 2019, which pays for work including political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic and social affairs and communications.

Washington owes some $381 million for prior regular budgets and $674 million for the 2019 regular budget. The U.S. mission to the United Nations confirmed the figures.

An official from the U.S. mission said the United States "will be providing the vast majority of what we owe to the regular budget this fall, as we have in past years."

"Overall the United States, as the largest contributor to the U.N., contributes roughly $10 billion annually in assessed and voluntary contributions across the United Nations system," the official said.

U.S. 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 U.N. operations and cut costs.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said 129 countries had paid their dues for 2019 so far, which amounted to almost $2 billion.

Guterres said he introduced extraordinary measures last month to cope with the shortfall - vacant posts cannot be filled, only essential travel is allowed, and some meetings may have to be canceled or deferred. U.N. operations in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi and at regional commissions will be affected.

U.N. peacekeeping missions are funded by a separate budget, which was $6.7 billion for the year to June 30, 2019, and $6.51 billion for the year to June 30, 2020.

The United States is responsible for nearly 28 percent of the peacekeeping budget but has pledged to pay only 25 percent - as required by U.S. law. Washington currently owes some $2.4 billion for peacekeeping missions.

The top contributing countries are Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Rwanda. They pay their troops according to their national salary scales and are reimbursed by the United Nations. As of July 2019, the United Nations paid $1,428 a month per soldier.

The United Nations says its peacekeeping operations cost less than half of 1 percent of world military expenditures. (Reuters)










 
 
  • numberSK Group chairman's wife files for divorce
  • number[POLL] What's your favorite English slogan for Daejeon?
  • numberAWS criticized for 'abusing' Korean clients
  • numberEducation ministry to toughen regulations on language course students
  • numberRetired baseball star hits lifetime home run in Laos
  • numberKorea urged to proactively cope with 'deepfakes'
  • numberHyundai Card breaks hierarchy to spur innovation
  • numberSK chief's divorce could shake up ownership structure
  • numberNH Prime REIT price soars after going public
  • numberAre foreign life insurers pulling out of Korea?
  • Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case
  • Rookie actor Cha In-ha's suicide raises concern of 'Werther effect' Rookie actor Cha In-ha's suicide raises concern of 'Werther effect'
  • BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism
  • Kang Daniel puts K-pop career on hold over anxiety disorder Kang Daniel puts K-pop career on hold over anxiety disorder
  • Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright