The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that “the decision of the United States today (Friday) to stop its funding is disappointing and surprising.”
UNRWA rejected US insistence that its programs were “irreparably flawed.”
“We reject in the strongest possible terms the criticism of UNRWA schools health centers and programs for emergency assistance as irreparably flawed” said Chris Janis UNRWA spokesman in a series of tweets on Twitter.
For his part UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed ‘regret’ over Washington’s decision to stop its assistance to UNRWA.
“UNRWA has the full confidence of the Secretary-General” read a statement issued by UN Secretary-General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Saturday.
He pointed out that it “provides basic services to the Palestinian refugees and contributes to the stabilization of the region” according to AFP.
He called on other countries to help bridge UNRWA’s financial deficit so that it could continue to provide vital assistance to the Palestinians citing the Organization’s efforts to adjust after the reduction of US funding earlier this year.
The Washington Post reported on Friday that the administration of US President Donald Trump had completely canceled the funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as part of its plan to place its funds in areas that serve its policies.
The newspaper quoted an official familiar with the decision which will be issued in the coming weeks claiming that it was taken to express rejection of the way UNRWA spends its money.
The official said: “The United States will call for a reduction in the recognition of the number of Palestinian refugees estimated at five million to only 1/10 of that number and any such reduction would effectively cancel the right of return for most Palestinians.”
