US ends funding to UN Palestinian refugee aid agency, following up on Trump threat
Updated
The United States has halted all funding to a UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, in a move likely to further heighten tensions between the Palestinians and the Trump administration.
Key points:
- UNRWA says it helps around 5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East
- The US had withheld $82m of funding in January, pending a review
- The UN has called for other countries to fill funding gap, with Germany already offering to help
US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the business model and fiscal practices of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were an "irredeemably flawed operation."
"The administration has carefully reviewed the issue and determined that the United States will not make additional contributions to UNRWA," she said in a statement.
Ms Nauert said the agency's, "endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years."
UNRWA rejected the criticisms, with spokesman Chris Gunness describing it as "a force for regional stability".
Speaking in Jordan, where more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees live, including 370,000 in 10 refugee camps, Mr Gunness said: "It is a deeply regrettable decision … some of the most disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable people on this planet are likely to suffer."
