Swordsmyth
08-31-2018, 06:04 PM
The United States announced it was halting funding for the United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees Friday after declaring the organization was "irredeemably flawed."Washington has long been the UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) largest donor but is "no longer willing to shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
Just hours after the Palestinians warned such a move would further undermine the already flailing chances of peace with Israel, Nauert said there would be no additional contributions beyond a $60 million dollar payment made in January.
"The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation," Nauert added.
And while there was some relief for the agency on Thursday when Germany said it would provide additional funding, UNRWA's director Pierre Krahenbuhl said earlier this week that the agency needs $200 million to continue its work until the end of this year.
The United States also announced last week that it was canceling more than $200 million in bilateral aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Nauert said the US would "intensify dialogue with the United Nations, host governments, and international stakeholders about new models and new approaches" to help alleviate any impact on Palestinian children.
"We are very mindful of and deeply concerned regarding the impact upon innocent Palestinians, especially school children, of the failure of UNRWA and key members of the regional and international donor community to reform and reset the UNRWA way of doing business," she added.
More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-ends-funding-un-palestinian-refugee-agency-225059605.html
Just hours after the Palestinians warned such a move would further undermine the already flailing chances of peace with Israel, Nauert said there would be no additional contributions beyond a $60 million dollar payment made in January.
"The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation," Nauert added.
And while there was some relief for the agency on Thursday when Germany said it would provide additional funding, UNRWA's director Pierre Krahenbuhl said earlier this week that the agency needs $200 million to continue its work until the end of this year.
The United States also announced last week that it was canceling more than $200 million in bilateral aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Nauert said the US would "intensify dialogue with the United Nations, host governments, and international stakeholders about new models and new approaches" to help alleviate any impact on Palestinian children.
"We are very mindful of and deeply concerned regarding the impact upon innocent Palestinians, especially school children, of the failure of UNRWA and key members of the regional and international donor community to reform and reset the UNRWA way of doing business," she added.
More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-ends-funding-un-palestinian-refugee-agency-225059605.html