NEW YORK – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has regretted the Trumpadministration’s decision to cut off funds to the Palestinian Refugeeagency.
Secretary-General’s Spokesman in a statement said we regret the UnitedStates’ decision to provide no further funding to United Nations Relief andWorks Agency, which provides essential services to Palestine refugees andcontributes to stability in the region.
The statement said the Secretary-General has called on other countries tohelp fill the remaining financial gap, so that the UN agency can continueto provide this vital assistance, as well as a sense of hope thisvulnerable population.
Earlier, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a statement saidthe US administration has determined that United States will not makeadditional contributions to United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the decisionas a flagrant assault against Palestinian people and a defiance of U.N.resolutions.
The latest announcement comes a week after the US administration said itwould redirect two hundred million dollars in Palestinian economic supportfunds for programs in West Bank and Gaza.