Global powers will gather in Rome tomorrow to discuss the future of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which faces an unprecedented crisis after the US froze tens of millions of dollars in funding.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) only has enough funds to keep schools and medical services open until May, its commissioner general Pierre Krahenbuhl tells AFP.
A major funding drive launched by UNRWA after the US freeze has raised little new money and diplomats are not optimistic about getting major pledges in the Italian capital.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has so far committed only $60 million to the agency this year, down from $360 million in 2017. He has frozen two planned payments worth more than $100 million — one for UNRWA’s central budget and one for food aid.
UN officials want European countries to step in to fill part of the gap but are especially looking at Gulf Arab countries.
Yesterday, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund released $30 million for UNRWA to keep the agency’s food aid program afloat.
— AFP
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