2 apr 2018
With its unprecedented pledge of USD 50 million to UNRWA at a recent ministerial conference in Rome, Qatar will become one of UNRWA’s top donors and will have a major impact on the Agency’s ability to continue its vital services to the vulnerable Palestine refugee community during this period of dramatic financial crisis.
PNN reports that, at an extraordinary ministerial conference on 15 March, entitled “Preserving Dignity and Sharing Responsibility – Mobilizing Collective Action for UNRWA,” Qatar made the largest pledge, which will safeguard Palestine refugee children’s access to education in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon for the remainder of the current academic year as well as other core and essential services the Agency provides to Palestine refugees in the Middle East.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who was present at the conference, praised Qatar for its announced funding to UNRWA saying in a statement, “I sincerely thank the Emir for Qatar’s generous contribution in support of Palestine refugees.”
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani said it was important for Qatar to fund the essential services of UNRWA: “In affirmation of the State of Qatar’s steady support policy towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the State of Qatar announced the donation of US$ 50 million to enable UNRWA to provide the necessary services to Palestine refugees.”
In response to this outstanding pledge, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl expressed gratitude. “I applaud Qatar for translating its political commitment into action and for its support to the Palestine refugee community in the region” and he added : “I am deeply and sincerely thankful to the government for this remarkable announcement and to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani for his strong trust in UNRWA. ”
The partnership between UNRWA and the State of Qatar has been developing for years and with this unprecedented donation will now enter a new phase, with a significant focus on education, including emergency education, particularly in Syria and Gaza.
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
PNN reports that, at an extraordinary ministerial conference on 15 March, entitled “Preserving Dignity and Sharing Responsibility – Mobilizing Collective Action for UNRWA,” Qatar made the largest pledge, which will safeguard Palestine refugee children’s access to education in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon for the remainder of the current academic year as well as other core and essential services the Agency provides to Palestine refugees in the Middle East.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who was present at the conference, praised Qatar for its announced funding to UNRWA saying in a statement, “I sincerely thank the Emir for Qatar’s generous contribution in support of Palestine refugees.”
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani said it was important for Qatar to fund the essential services of UNRWA: “In affirmation of the State of Qatar’s steady support policy towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the State of Qatar announced the donation of US$ 50 million to enable UNRWA to provide the necessary services to Palestine refugees.”
In response to this outstanding pledge, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl expressed gratitude. “I applaud Qatar for translating its political commitment into action and for its support to the Palestine refugee community in the region” and he added : “I am deeply and sincerely thankful to the government for this remarkable announcement and to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani for his strong trust in UNRWA. ”
The partnership between UNRWA and the State of Qatar has been developing for years and with this unprecedented donation will now enter a new phase, with a significant focus on education, including emergency education, particularly in Syria and Gaza.
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
25 mar 2018
Head of the UK Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has condemned American punishments against the Palestinian people, including the assault on their right to have Jerusalem is the capital of their state.
Labour Friends of Palestine met in British Parliament on 14 March, highlighting speeches by Palestinian Authority Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian teenage poet Leanne Mohamad.
Jeremy Corbyn slammed US President Donald Trump saying: “Donald Trump, his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has sparked a resurgence in tensions.
“And, we absolutely condemn that. What we want is peace achieved in the region. You don’t achieve it by the actions of Donald Trump, in that sense.”
Corbyn also spoke out against the cuts made to UNRWA, the United Nations body that deals with Palestine refugees, who have been enforced out of their homes by the Israeli Zionist since 1948.
“Also, the cuts that have been made to the funding of UNRWA, jeopardizing schooling and healthcare for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including 500,000 children whose only access to education is UN funded schools through UNRWA.
“No one can believe that such a state of affairs will ever bring about a long-lasting peace,” Corbyn said.
Labour Friends of Palestine met in British Parliament on 14 March, highlighting speeches by Palestinian Authority Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian teenage poet Leanne Mohamad.
Jeremy Corbyn slammed US President Donald Trump saying: “Donald Trump, his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has sparked a resurgence in tensions.
“And, we absolutely condemn that. What we want is peace achieved in the region. You don’t achieve it by the actions of Donald Trump, in that sense.”
Corbyn also spoke out against the cuts made to UNRWA, the United Nations body that deals with Palestine refugees, who have been enforced out of their homes by the Israeli Zionist since 1948.
“Also, the cuts that have been made to the funding of UNRWA, jeopardizing schooling and healthcare for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including 500,000 children whose only access to education is UN funded schools through UNRWA.
“No one can believe that such a state of affairs will ever bring about a long-lasting peace,” Corbyn said.
15 mar 2018
Jamie McGoldrick, of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), announced on Wednesday the launch of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2018, which aims to support the needs of 1.9 million Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, or oPt.
McGoldrick said the plan exists in the context of one of the world’s most long-standing protection crises, which remains directly tied to the impact of Israel’s occupation, which marked its 50th year in June 2017, alongside internal Palestinian divisions and Egypt’s closure of Rafah crossing.
“This year, we are especially pleased to co-launch the appeal in Gaza with the State of Palestine. In so doing, we are sending a strong message of our joint commitment to improving the humanitarian situation for Gaza’s nearly 2 million Palestinian residents, over half of them children”, he said.
“There is no place more fitting to launch the humanitarian plan than Gaza, where we see a man-made tragedy unfolding daily. Today, Gaza is on the brink of catastrophe and humanitarian needs run deep. Ten (10) years of intensified movement and access restrictions, recurrent escalations of hostilities, alongside internal Palestinian divisions and closure of Rafah, have left 70 per cent of the population reliant on international aid”, he added.
“Some 40 per cent of Gaza’s households fail to meet international standards for food security; unemployment stands at nearly 47 per cent, due largely to a crippled economy, limited by restrictions on movement of people and goods, and an energy crisis that leaves people without electricity up to 20 hours a day,” McGoldrick warned.
“Without donor-funded emergency fuel distributed to critical water, sanitation and health facilities, we would face a total systems collapse, with the result, a humanitarian disaster. Even with support, 40 per cent of the population receives just 4 to 6 hours of water supply, every 3 to 5 days, and over 100 million liters of sewage – nearly all of it raw –flows into the sea each day. Access to healthcare, a basic human right, is denied to thousands, due to a lack of drugs, equipment and expertise available in Gaza, compounded by significant difficulty to exit the Strip to receive treatment elsewhere.”
“In front of us, we see the damage left from the 2014 escalation of hostilities. Great strides have been made in the reconstruction effort, but over 20,000 Palestinians remain displaced from that period. Less visible is the psychological damage, particularly on children, sustained by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the conflict, and those that preceded it,” OCHA maintained.
“To the right, we see the signs of the crisis in basic services that has worsened over the last year, with an estimated 30,000 tons of uncollected trash gathering at this site alone;
Behind me, we see the Beit Lahiya sewage lagoons; a symbol of the insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure, dependent on donor-funded fuel to pump out the sewage or risk an overflow of the lagoon, like the one that claimed the lives of 5 Palestinians in 2007,” OCHA’s statement read. “And, finally, to the left, we see the access restricted areas on land, where farmers face restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on their ability to access their agricultural land, posing physical safety risks and impacting livelihoods across Gaza. These areas are among those with the highest vulnerability in the oPt, a reality exemplified earlier this month, when a 59-year-old Palestinian farmer was killed by Israeli gunfire while working on his farm in the restricted areas, east of Khan Younis.”
According to McGoldrick, in the West Bank, the volume of needs are less, but no less serious or urgent. Movement and access restrictions, often in the context of Israeli settlement activity, and discriminatory planning and zoning policies, have fragmented the territory, resulting in destroyed homes and livelihoods. The combined impact of a number of policies has created for many Palestinians, in areas like Area C, East Jerusalem and the Israeli-controlled part of al-Khalil city, a coercive environment that pressures them to leave and generates a risk of forcible transfer.
“Some 270,000 Palestinians in Area C are directly affected by Israeli restrictions and control over water and sanitation infrastructure”, he said. “350,000 people in the West Bank are vulnerable to settler violence and over 260,000 people, including Palestine refugees, are in need of humanitarian healthcare. Access to education is heavily compromised by an increase in education-related violations, affecting almost 40,000 students and teachers.”
“Against this worrying backdrop of needs in the oPt, the massive funding crisis faced by UNRWA, one of the main service providers and a main employer, particularly in Gaza, should be of concern to everyone, not just Palestine refugees”, he stressed.
Overall, the 2018 humanitarian plan appeals for US$ 539.7 million to address urgent humanitarian needs in the areas of protection, food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter and education. Of the request, 75 per cent targets Palestinians in Gaza. Half of the overall amount is for UNRWA emergency projects.
McGoldrick said the plan exists in the context of one of the world’s most long-standing protection crises, which remains directly tied to the impact of Israel’s occupation, which marked its 50th year in June 2017, alongside internal Palestinian divisions and Egypt’s closure of Rafah crossing.
“This year, we are especially pleased to co-launch the appeal in Gaza with the State of Palestine. In so doing, we are sending a strong message of our joint commitment to improving the humanitarian situation for Gaza’s nearly 2 million Palestinian residents, over half of them children”, he said.
“There is no place more fitting to launch the humanitarian plan than Gaza, where we see a man-made tragedy unfolding daily. Today, Gaza is on the brink of catastrophe and humanitarian needs run deep. Ten (10) years of intensified movement and access restrictions, recurrent escalations of hostilities, alongside internal Palestinian divisions and closure of Rafah, have left 70 per cent of the population reliant on international aid”, he added.
“Some 40 per cent of Gaza’s households fail to meet international standards for food security; unemployment stands at nearly 47 per cent, due largely to a crippled economy, limited by restrictions on movement of people and goods, and an energy crisis that leaves people without electricity up to 20 hours a day,” McGoldrick warned.
“Without donor-funded emergency fuel distributed to critical water, sanitation and health facilities, we would face a total systems collapse, with the result, a humanitarian disaster. Even with support, 40 per cent of the population receives just 4 to 6 hours of water supply, every 3 to 5 days, and over 100 million liters of sewage – nearly all of it raw –flows into the sea each day. Access to healthcare, a basic human right, is denied to thousands, due to a lack of drugs, equipment and expertise available in Gaza, compounded by significant difficulty to exit the Strip to receive treatment elsewhere.”
“In front of us, we see the damage left from the 2014 escalation of hostilities. Great strides have been made in the reconstruction effort, but over 20,000 Palestinians remain displaced from that period. Less visible is the psychological damage, particularly on children, sustained by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the conflict, and those that preceded it,” OCHA maintained.
“To the right, we see the signs of the crisis in basic services that has worsened over the last year, with an estimated 30,000 tons of uncollected trash gathering at this site alone;
Behind me, we see the Beit Lahiya sewage lagoons; a symbol of the insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure, dependent on donor-funded fuel to pump out the sewage or risk an overflow of the lagoon, like the one that claimed the lives of 5 Palestinians in 2007,” OCHA’s statement read. “And, finally, to the left, we see the access restricted areas on land, where farmers face restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on their ability to access their agricultural land, posing physical safety risks and impacting livelihoods across Gaza. These areas are among those with the highest vulnerability in the oPt, a reality exemplified earlier this month, when a 59-year-old Palestinian farmer was killed by Israeli gunfire while working on his farm in the restricted areas, east of Khan Younis.”
According to McGoldrick, in the West Bank, the volume of needs are less, but no less serious or urgent. Movement and access restrictions, often in the context of Israeli settlement activity, and discriminatory planning and zoning policies, have fragmented the territory, resulting in destroyed homes and livelihoods. The combined impact of a number of policies has created for many Palestinians, in areas like Area C, East Jerusalem and the Israeli-controlled part of al-Khalil city, a coercive environment that pressures them to leave and generates a risk of forcible transfer.
“Some 270,000 Palestinians in Area C are directly affected by Israeli restrictions and control over water and sanitation infrastructure”, he said. “350,000 people in the West Bank are vulnerable to settler violence and over 260,000 people, including Palestine refugees, are in need of humanitarian healthcare. Access to education is heavily compromised by an increase in education-related violations, affecting almost 40,000 students and teachers.”
“Against this worrying backdrop of needs in the oPt, the massive funding crisis faced by UNRWA, one of the main service providers and a main employer, particularly in Gaza, should be of concern to everyone, not just Palestine refugees”, he stressed.
Overall, the 2018 humanitarian plan appeals for US$ 539.7 million to address urgent humanitarian needs in the areas of protection, food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter and education. Of the request, 75 per cent targets Palestinians in Gaza. Half of the overall amount is for UNRWA emergency projects.
8 mar 2018
At least 21 Palestinian refugees were pronounced dead in the raging Syrian warfare during February 2018, the London-based Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) reported.
A report by AGPS said 12 Palestinian refugees were fatally shot down; four died as a result of the unabated shelling; three were executed, and one refugee was tortured to death in Syrian dungeons.
One more Palestinian breathed his last a result of the blockade and lack of medical care while another died of unknown causes.
As for the geographical distribution of the casualties, Damascus topped the list with 12 Palestinians, followed by Rif Dimashq, with five casualties. One Palestinian was pronounced dead in Deir al-Zor.
AGPS report also kept record of the death of three other Palestinian refugees in unknown locations as a result of the rampant Syrian conflict.
A report by AGPS said 12 Palestinian refugees were fatally shot down; four died as a result of the unabated shelling; three were executed, and one refugee was tortured to death in Syrian dungeons.
One more Palestinian breathed his last a result of the blockade and lack of medical care while another died of unknown causes.
As for the geographical distribution of the casualties, Damascus topped the list with 12 Palestinians, followed by Rif Dimashq, with five casualties. One Palestinian was pronounced dead in Deir al-Zor.
AGPS report also kept record of the death of three other Palestinian refugees in unknown locations as a result of the rampant Syrian conflict.
27 feb 2018
The London-based Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) and the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) issued their annual report on the situation of Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria during 2017.
The report covers the tragic humanitarian, health, and socio-economic conditions endured by the Palestinian refugee community across the embattled Syrian territories.
The study sheds light on the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria, in neighboring countries, and on the migration road, on their way to Europe, seeking a safer shelter.
It also underscores the number of Palestinian victims and detainees.
The 96-page report keeps record of the death of 205 Palestinians in 2017, among them 12 persons tortured to death in Syrian government lock-ups, and the detention of 28 refugees.
According to AGPS and PRC, the number of Palestinian refugees incarcerated in Syrian dungeons has gone up to 1,644. 475 refugees were either killed or forcibly disappeared in Syria.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) is a London-based human rights watchdog that monitors the situation of Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria. To that very end, live snapshots, footages, and sworn affidavits are taken directly from the fighting scene across a myriad of flashpoints so as to authenticate AGPS role as a human rights overseer.
The report covers the tragic humanitarian, health, and socio-economic conditions endured by the Palestinian refugee community across the embattled Syrian territories.
The study sheds light on the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria, in neighboring countries, and on the migration road, on their way to Europe, seeking a safer shelter.
It also underscores the number of Palestinian victims and detainees.
The 96-page report keeps record of the death of 205 Palestinians in 2017, among them 12 persons tortured to death in Syrian government lock-ups, and the detention of 28 refugees.
According to AGPS and PRC, the number of Palestinian refugees incarcerated in Syrian dungeons has gone up to 1,644. 475 refugees were either killed or forcibly disappeared in Syria.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) is a London-based human rights watchdog that monitors the situation of Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria. To that very end, live snapshots, footages, and sworn affidavits are taken directly from the fighting scene across a myriad of flashpoints so as to authenticate AGPS role as a human rights overseer.
26 feb 2018
The Action Group of Palestinians in Syria revealed, in a new report issued on Monday, that the fate of dozens of Palestinian female refugees remains unknown in Syrian regime’s prisons.
More than 100 Palestinian mothers and young women were forcibly disappeared behind Syrian regime’s bars.
Newly released female prisoners had earlier confirmed they were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at the hands of Syrian security forces, the group said.
Torture methods include severe beating, electric shocks, rape and sexual assault, according to the group.
More than 100 Palestinian mothers and young women were forcibly disappeared behind Syrian regime’s bars.
Newly released female prisoners had earlier confirmed they were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at the hands of Syrian security forces, the group said.
Torture methods include severe beating, electric shocks, rape and sexual assault, according to the group.
10 feb 2018
More than 100 US Congress members from the Democratic Party have urged US President Donald Trump to resume contributions to the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
"We write to urge you to continue vital US contributions to… UNRWA and bilateral assistance to the Palestinians. Continuing to freeze this aid will harm American interests by exacerbating the threats facing both peoples and reducing the United States' ability to help the Israelis and Palestinians reach a two-state solution," the letter issued on Thursday read, Sputnik reported.
The news comes amid Washington's decision to withhold $65 million out of $125-million contribution to the agency. The step was taken after the Palestinian leaders had refused to accept any peace plans proposed by the United States as a result of the recognition of the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said he would request other donor nations to contribute and start “a global fundraising campaign” aimed at keeping the agency’s schools and clinics for refugees open through 2018.
The UNRWA has been providing aid to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, who were forced to flee their homes since 1949. The aid includes education, health care and social services. Most of the organization's funding has been ensured by the European countries and the United States.
"We write to urge you to continue vital US contributions to… UNRWA and bilateral assistance to the Palestinians. Continuing to freeze this aid will harm American interests by exacerbating the threats facing both peoples and reducing the United States' ability to help the Israelis and Palestinians reach a two-state solution," the letter issued on Thursday read, Sputnik reported.
The news comes amid Washington's decision to withhold $65 million out of $125-million contribution to the agency. The step was taken after the Palestinian leaders had refused to accept any peace plans proposed by the United States as a result of the recognition of the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said he would request other donor nations to contribute and start “a global fundraising campaign” aimed at keeping the agency’s schools and clinics for refugees open through 2018.
The UNRWA has been providing aid to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, who were forced to flee their homes since 1949. The aid includes education, health care and social services. Most of the organization's funding has been ensured by the European countries and the United States.
Hamas’ political official in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdul Hadi, said that contacts have been made to restore calm to Ain el-Helweh Refugee Camp.
The refugee camp had witnessed armed clashes on Friday evening, resulted in the death of Abdel Rahim Bassam al-Maqdah and the wounding of Mohammed Jamal Hamad and Ali Sleiman.
"Hamas is against any actions that harm the joint Palestinian security forces, as they are the result of a consensus between all Palestinian factions," he said.
There are some 450,000 Palestinian refugees living in 12 camps in Lebanon.
Situated just southeast of the city of Saida, Ain El Helweh Palestinian refugee camp is the largest and most crowded camp in Lebanon.
The refugee camp had witnessed armed clashes on Friday evening, resulted in the death of Abdel Rahim Bassam al-Maqdah and the wounding of Mohammed Jamal Hamad and Ali Sleiman.
"Hamas is against any actions that harm the joint Palestinian security forces, as they are the result of a consensus between all Palestinian factions," he said.
There are some 450,000 Palestinian refugees living in 12 camps in Lebanon.
Situated just southeast of the city of Saida, Ain El Helweh Palestinian refugee camp is the largest and most crowded camp in Lebanon.
3 feb 2018
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Sigrid Kaag, has been subjected to a fierce campaign for donating 13 million euros to UNRWA.
Head of the Palestinian House in the Netherlands Amin Abu Rashid expressed gratitude to the Dutch Minister for her support to the Palestinian cause over the US President’s decision to reduce his country financial aids to UNRWA.
In this regard, Abu Rashid called for more support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.
Head of the Palestinian House in the Netherlands Amin Abu Rashid expressed gratitude to the Dutch Minister for her support to the Palestinian cause over the US President’s decision to reduce his country financial aids to UNRWA.
In this regard, Abu Rashid called for more support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.
31 jan 2018
US administration has proposed that the UNRWA changes its school textbooks in order to continue to receive US donations, Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad reported, on Tuesday.
The newspaper said that the US proposed two amendments to the textbooks, which include the abolition of all references to the right of return and issue of refugees in general, as well having no mention of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Al-Ghad said that the other proposed condition, which would guarantee the continuation of US aid to the UN body only in occupied Palestinian territories and Jordan, is to stop commemorating occasions such as Nakba Day and the Balfour Declaration.
Meanwhile, the UNRWA’s Chief of Communications, Sami Msha’sha’, said that the US had conditioned the continuation of aid to the organization after carrying out the “amendments”, and said it would only fund UNRWA’s operations in Jordan and the occupied territories.
He reiterated that the UNRWA is suffering from an “unprecedented” budget crisis, but stressed that it would continue offering its services to Palestinian refugees in besieged Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
The newspaper said that the US proposed two amendments to the textbooks, which include the abolition of all references to the right of return and issue of refugees in general, as well having no mention of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Al-Ghad said that the other proposed condition, which would guarantee the continuation of US aid to the UN body only in occupied Palestinian territories and Jordan, is to stop commemorating occasions such as Nakba Day and the Balfour Declaration.
Meanwhile, the UNRWA’s Chief of Communications, Sami Msha’sha’, said that the US had conditioned the continuation of aid to the organization after carrying out the “amendments”, and said it would only fund UNRWA’s operations in Jordan and the occupied territories.
He reiterated that the UNRWA is suffering from an “unprecedented” budget crisis, but stressed that it would continue offering its services to Palestinian refugees in besieged Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
19 jan 2018
The US State Department on Thursday announced that Washington will not provide $45 million in food aid which it pledged last month for Palestinian refugees.
This came days after the US froze humanitarian aid to the UNRWA worth $65 million.
Spokeswoman for the US State Department, Heather Nauert, said in statements, "At this time we will not be providing that, but this does not mean that it will not be provided in the future."
Nauert claimed that the withholding of the funds was not intended to punish Palestinians who strongly criticized the US president Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month.
"Other countries are required to do more," she said, adding that the US does not have to be the chief donor to every organization around the world.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, on 15th December 2017 received a letter from the State Department Comptroller, Eric Hembree, in which he pledged $45 million for the West Bank and Gaza in response to an emergency appeal by the UNRWA.
In early January 2018, the US president threatened to halt his country's annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, which is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, until it returns to the negotiating table.
The US provides assistance to the Palestinians through different programs including UNRWA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the US security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
This came days after the US froze humanitarian aid to the UNRWA worth $65 million.
Spokeswoman for the US State Department, Heather Nauert, said in statements, "At this time we will not be providing that, but this does not mean that it will not be provided in the future."
Nauert claimed that the withholding of the funds was not intended to punish Palestinians who strongly criticized the US president Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month.
"Other countries are required to do more," she said, adding that the US does not have to be the chief donor to every organization around the world.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, on 15th December 2017 received a letter from the State Department Comptroller, Eric Hembree, in which he pledged $45 million for the West Bank and Gaza in response to an emergency appeal by the UNRWA.
In early January 2018, the US president threatened to halt his country's annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, which is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, until it returns to the negotiating table.
The US provides assistance to the Palestinians through different programs including UNRWA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the US security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
18 jan 2018
The US administration’s peace envoy, Jason Greenblatt, will arrive in Palestine today to meet with envoys from the Middle East Quartet to explore the situation following president Donald Trump’s recognition of Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
His visit is taking place amid continued diplomatic fallout from Trump’s move on Jerusalem and his decision to cut funding for the UNRWA.
“Jason will be attending a regular meeting of the Quartet envoys to exchange information and continue our engagement on advancing peace,” a White House official told an Israeli newspaper.
Greenblatt may stay until US vice president Mike Pence’s visit, which is slated for January 22-23.
The so-called Quartet consists of representatives from the US, Russia, the UN, and the European Union. It was established in Madrid in 2002 to try to resolve the decades-old dispute between Palestinians and Israelis.
His visit is taking place amid continued diplomatic fallout from Trump’s move on Jerusalem and his decision to cut funding for the UNRWA.
“Jason will be attending a regular meeting of the Quartet envoys to exchange information and continue our engagement on advancing peace,” a White House official told an Israeli newspaper.
Greenblatt may stay until US vice president Mike Pence’s visit, which is slated for January 22-23.
The so-called Quartet consists of representatives from the US, Russia, the UN, and the European Union. It was established in Madrid in 2002 to try to resolve the decades-old dispute between Palestinians and Israelis.
