The United States may permanently end funding to the UN’s Palestinian Authority. Opposition in Congress threatens to make the funding freeze permanent this month. The country is walking the path of such an initiative even though the Biden administration called the humanitarian activities of relief organizations essential. A report by the British news agency Reuters revealed this.
In January, more than a dozen countries, including the United States, suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The decision came after Israel alleged that 12 of the organization’s 13,000 workers took part in the October 7 Hamas attack.
The United Nations launched an investigation following the Israeli complaint. United States is the main donor country of the United Nations. The country finances about 300-400 million dollars every year. They said they want to see the results of the investigation and corrective action taken before refinancing begins.
Even if this moratorium is withdrawn, the UN organization can get only 3 lakh dollars out of the money already allocated. Any further funding would require the approval of the US Congress.
Bipartisan opposition in Congress makes regular funding unlikely any time soon. However, Sweden and Canada have said they will resume their funding.
A supplemental bill proposed in the U.S. Congress backed by the Biden administration includes aid for Israel and Ukraine. The bill also has an allocation for the United Nations. If it passes, funding opportunities will increase.
US officials are acknowledging the UN agency’s critical role in delivering aid to Gaza, which is at risk of famine after five months of fighting.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday, “We have to plan with the fear that Congress could permanently cut off this funding.”
Washington is considering working with organizations such as UNICEF and the World Food Program, excluding the UN’s Palestinian Authority. But officials admit that replacing the organization is difficult.
Miller said there are few relief agencies inside Gaza. But the work and network that UNRWA has built over time and the capacity that no one else has.
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