UN agency says aid cut to Pakistan has sparked largest ever financial crisis

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has revealed that the decision by the United States to cut funds to the organization has sparked its largest-ever financial crisis.

The UN agency has now decided to launch a global fundraising campaign to fill in budget gaps left behind by the US administration’s decision to withhold $65 million which amounts to half of the cash it was due to receive from the US this month.

“It’s the most serious financial crisis in UNRWA’s 70-year history,” said UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness.

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“It’s a massive, massive task that we face,” Gunness told CNN. “There is a huge deficit that we need to fill.”

The decision drew condemnation from Palestinians, praise from Israel, and expressions of deep concern from UN officials and refugee groups. It came two weeks after Trump raised the prospect of cutting US aid to Palestinians in a series of tweets.

The US is UNRWA’s single largest donor — it donated $368 million to the agency in 2016 alone.

 

 

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