UN Member States Owe The World Body Roughly $3.5 Billion

The U.N. management chief said the U.N. member states owe the world body about $3.5 billion for its regular operating budget and peacekeeping operations. Yukio Takasu also mentioned how the funding gap for the regular budget is just over $950 million including about $800 million owed by the United States, $77 million by Brazil and $28 million by Venezuela. Takasu said, 'The regular budget is very tight and we have to watch very carefully...We have very small reserves so (the) financial health of the organization totally depends on how quickly and how much member states can pay to us.' The United Nations also owes $1.2 billion to member states that contribute troops and equipment to peacekeeping operations. Takasu mentioned, 'The U.N. is going to pay troop contributing countries $500 million in the coming days and more in November and December to hopefully bring the amount it owes down to $501 million.'