U.S. ENDS AID TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

UN Relief and Works Agency ‘irredeemably flawed’, says US

THE United States announced that it is halting funding for the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees on Friday after declaring the organisation “irredeemably flawed”.

Washington has long been the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) largest donor, but was “no longer willing to shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden”, State Department spokesman Heather Nauert said.

She said there would be no additional contributions beyond a US$60 million (RM246 million) payment made in January, drawing condemnation from Palestinians and UNRWA.

“The US will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation.”

There have been widespread warnings about the impact of a halt to funding from the US, which contributed US$350 million to UNRWA’s budget last year.

UNRWA also slammed the US decision, dismissing Nauert’s characterisation of the agency.

UNRWA “expresses deep regret and disappointment at the US’ announcement that it will no longer provide funding to the Agency after decades of staunch political and financial support,” spokesman Chris Gunness tweeted.

“We reject in the strongest possible terms the criticism that UNRWA’s schools, health centres and emergency assistance programmes are ‘irredeemably flawed’.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said UNRWA had his “full confidence”, calling on “other countries to help fill the remaining financial gap so that UNRWA can continue to provide this vital assistance”.

The agency supports some five million registered Palestinian refugees and provides schooling for 526,000 children in Palestinian territories, as well as in camps in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

Fears over funding have already led to warnings from UNRWA that it may have to permanently shut all the 711 schools that it runs after recent temporary closures.