UNRWA: We will decide whether to open schools soon depending on financial difficulties
Headline: “UNRWA: The decision of whether to start the school year will be made in the middle of this month”
“Director of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) Operations in the West Bank Scott Anderson said that there is intensive activity to guarantee the sums that are required to open 700 UNRWA schools, which provide education to half a million male and female students. He noted that the decision of whether to start the school year will be made by [UNRWA] Commissioner-General [Pierre Krähenbühl] in the middle of this August [2018]… Anderson added at a press conference that was held today (Wednesday) [Aug. 1, 2018]… that ‘Despite the difficulties that UNRWA is dealing with, we are working to provide the money that is required to start the school year on the date that was set.’ He noted that UNRWA is suffering from many financial difficulties, and that it is still suffering from a deficit of more than $200 million due to the US decision a year ago to cut the aid that it provides to UNRWA (sic., the funding cut began in January 2018; see note below –Ed.). Anderson added that the [fundraising] campaign ‘Dignity is Priceless’ has raised $238 million, but [UNRWA] is still suffering from a deficit of $217 million this year.”
In early January 2018, the US froze two planned payments to UNRWA for more than $100 million, and the US administration spoke about the need to reexamine and conduct a reform of the UN body. This occurred after the PA refused to negotiate with Israel and cut diplomatic ties with America following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017.
“Director of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) Operations in the West Bank Scott Anderson said that there is intensive activity to guarantee the sums that are required to open 700 UNRWA schools, which provide education to half a million male and female students. He noted that the decision of whether to start the school year will be made by [UNRWA] Commissioner-General [Pierre Krähenbühl] in the middle of this August [2018]… Anderson added at a press conference that was held today (Wednesday) [Aug. 1, 2018]… that ‘Despite the difficulties that UNRWA is dealing with, we are working to provide the money that is required to start the school year on the date that was set.’ He noted that UNRWA is suffering from many financial difficulties, and that it is still suffering from a deficit of more than $200 million due to the US decision a year ago to cut the aid that it provides to UNRWA (sic., the funding cut began in January 2018; see note below –Ed.). Anderson added that the [fundraising] campaign ‘Dignity is Priceless’ has raised $238 million, but [UNRWA] is still suffering from a deficit of $217 million this year.”
In early January 2018, the US froze two planned payments to UNRWA for more than $100 million, and the US administration spoke about the need to reexamine and conduct a reform of the UN body. This occurred after the PA refused to negotiate with Israel and cut diplomatic ties with America following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017.