The United States stopped funding the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Assistance

The United States has stopped funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Фото: Depositphotos

The US State Department called the activities of this organization spoiled "writes with the BBC.

“The US administration has carefully reviewed the situation and will no longer be making any further contributions to UNRWA,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

In January, the United States announced a reduction in financial assistance to the agency by half.

A spokesman for the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called the US decision "a rude insult to the Palestinian people and a violation of UN resolutions."

What is UNRWA?

Originally, UNRWA was created to assist hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

The agency currently provides assistance to more than five million people in the Middle East, including the provision of health and social services, as well as increased access to education.

The United States is the largest contributor to UNRWA, providing 2016 million to organizations in 368, funding almost 30% of agency operations in the region.

In January, the Trump administration handed over $ 60 million to UNRWA, leaving 65 million back on hold. After the decision to stop financing, the payment of the remaining 65 millions will be canceled.

31 August: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that his country will increase its contributions to the agency, because its funding crisis is fueling uncertainty in the region.

In January, the organization announced a global call to fill a gap in its budget. Then some Israel representatives expressed concern, noting that the weakening of UNRWA could increase instability in the region and lead to an increase in extremist sentiment.

The position of the United States

In January, US President Donald Trump's intention to change the approach to supporting the organization, stressing that the United States did not receive "no recognition or respect" for the large amounts of assistance provided to the region.

In the same month, Trump threatened to cut aid to the Palestinians because of their unwillingness to negotiate with Israel.

According to Nauert, the United States "would like to see some changes in the work of UNRWA" to ensure that the money was "spent wisely" and people received the services they needed.

Read also on ForumDaily:

15-year-old Israeli invited UN Secretary-General to live near Gaza

82% Israelis are proud of their country

Israeli Defense Minister said it would not allow terrorists to become millionaires

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.