A million Palestinians are Threatened to Hunger
Emergency food aid for about a million Palestinians in Gaza may be exhausted this June. This would happen if UNRWA could not raise another $ 200 million in aid, after a US donation cut.
Pierre Kraehenbuehl, who heads UNRWA in providing aid to Palestinians throughout the Middle East, said US President Donald Trump has withheld funds totaling 305 million dollars. That figure is greater than the 65 million dollar deductions reported in January.
"You already have a very, very fragile society (in Gaza)," Kraehenbuehl told Reuters in an interview during an international Syrian donors conference in Brussels.
"So if you suddenly have no certainty about the amount of food aid from the UN for a million people ... you can imagine what effect will happen," he said.
Gulf countries, Norway and Canada have given a total of 200 million US dollars to help meet the UNRWA budget of 465 million US dollars planned for 2018. The US, which has long been the largest donor to the institution, provided only 60 million US dollars from 365 million US dollars that have been promised.
The amount leaves a shortfall of 200 million US dollars to meet the needs of rice, flour, sugar, and also to maintain school funding in Gaza and the West Bank. Assistance to UNRWA competes with aid for the crisis in Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kraehenbuehl warned that greater instability would occur in Gaza after the region's economy suffered from the blockade of Israel and Egypt for a decade. Internal divisions also occur in Palestine.
Kraehenbuehl said the lack of funding for UNRWA could also mean there was not enough money to reopen schools in August and September for the new school year. "This is our biggest funding crisis," he said.
More than two million Palestinians live in Gaza. After Israel withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005, the country still maintains tight control over Gaza's land and sea borders. Egypt also limits movement in and out of the Gaza community on its borders.
Trump withheld assistance to UNRWA in January after questioning the value of the funding. While the US State Department says UNRWA needs to undertake unspecified reforms.
Many Western diplomats see Trump's decision as a reaction to criticism of many countries across the Middle East over his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6 before a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Kraehenbuehl said he had imposed spending cuts to stem costs and sought new donors in the private sector. They can be from Gulf countries, or donations made in solidarity actions for the Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan.
Kraehenbuehl said after receiving donors from Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he will seek help from Germany, France, Sweden and Britain, while traveling to Berlin this weekend. While Israel is not a UNRWA contributor.
"This is a simple investment to keep the region from future instability and uncertainty," Kraehenbuehl said.
On Monday (23/4), UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country has donated 70 million US dollars to support the Palestinian people. The help will be given in two parts.
A $ 20 million fund will be allocated to the Jerusalem Wakaf Foundation. A $ 50 million fund will go to UNRWA to support the education sector in Gaza.
Last week, Saudi Arabia also announced a $ 50 million donation to UNRWA. In addition, the kingdom will also donate 150 million US dollars for the maintenance of Islamic heritage sites in Jerusalem.