U.N. chief warns staff, member states - We're running out of cash

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the media after a meeting with Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado at the Presidential house in San Jose, Costa Rica July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned staff that the world body is running out of cash and urged member states to pay what they owe as soon as possible, according to letters seen by Reuters on Thursday.

Guterres said in a letter sent to member states on Wednesday that as of June 30, the core U.N. budget had a deficit of $139 million (105.90 million pounds) and the United Nations had "never faced such a difficult cash flow situation this early in the calendar year."