65 million dollars frozen. Appeal of the commissioner general: "The most dramatic financial crisis in the history of UNWRA". UNRWA deals with refugees, particularly in Gaza. The United States is the largest donor. Tensions between Abbas and Trump after the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The United States has cut funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. An anonymous source in Washington announced yesterday that the US "needs to review the way in which UNWRA works and is financed".
The United States will pay 60 million dollars, "freezing" 65 million for "future consideration". A total of 125 million representing a third of the annual American contribution, the most important that the agency receives. In 2017 the US donated 370 million.
US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to cut aid to the Palestinians to punish the Palestinian Authority's refusal to sit down at the negotiating table. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared on January 14 that he would not accept any peace plan with the US, due to the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Since 1950, the agency has been providing humanitarian support in the Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and in particular in Gaza. Commissioner General, Pierre Krähenbühl, released a statement recalling "525,000 boys and girls in the 700 UNRWA schools" and appealing to the international community "during the most dramatic financial crisis in the history of UNRWA".