India Among Makes UN Honor Roll For Early Dues Payment

NEW YORK, NY -India has joined the UN Honour Roll by promptly paying its 2026 dues of $35.187 million to the cash-strapped organization, according to spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

India sent in on February 3 its share of 1.016 per cent of the total 2016 regular budget of $3.45 billion for UN operations, excluding peacekeeping.

The UN, which is facing a financial crisis because its biggest contributor, the US, has not paid its share for last year, has appealed to member states to send their dues early to keep the organization solvent.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a letter to member countries that the UN is in “imminent financial collapse”, and officials say it could run out of money for its operations by July if the US does not clear its arrears.

The Honour Roll is reserved for countries that pay their dues within 30 days of receiving the payment notice. So far, 47 countries have made the roll.

The UN has a separate budget for peacekeeping, which is due in July. India’s share of the $5.38 billion peacekeeping budget is 0.2212 per cent. (IANS)