The United States announced in January that it would give $60 million to UNRWA – a fraction of the more than $350 million annual contribution that it has previously provided to the agency’s budget. Trump threatens to cut aid to UN members over Jerusalem voteBut Mulrean told reporters at UN headquarters that the agency was facing an “existential financial crisis” as it seeks to fill the gap from the US funding cut. The United States is the biggest single donor to UNRWA, which provides schools and health clinics to 5.3 million refugees in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Last month, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States would not provide aid to the Palestinians until they agree “to come back to the negotiation table” and reach a peace deal with Israel. “People are frightened and concerned about what this means for them, their families and their future,” he said.

Source: The Express Tribune February 10, 2018 09:45 UTC