Spain warns of repercussions of cutting US aid to UNRWA

The Spanish foreign ministry has condemned the US decision to stop paying additional funding to UNRWA, warning of dangerous repercussions in the region,Safanews agency reported yesterday.

In a statement, Spain rejected the US claim that UNRWA was plagued with corruption and was “irredeemably flawed”.

“For 60 years, UNRWA has been working loyally and contributing to the urgent support and social assistance for Palestinian refugees,” the Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The critical financial situation of UNRWA caused by the decision taken by the administration of [US President Donald] Trump seriously threatens the continuity of health, education and food programmes, which directly benefit Palestinian refugees in the Middle East,” the statement said.

Read: Mayor of Jerusalem to stop UNRWA’s operations

The statement warned that cutting aid to the Palestinian refugees would have “serious consequences on the stability of the region, especially in the Gaza Strip”.

In the statement Spain stressed it is “fully committed to finding joint solutions” to enable UNRWA to continue its work in a sustainable manner.

“Spain considers that the EU and its member states should make a supplementary effort to compensate the possible consequences of the serious decision taken by the US,” the statement said, noting that Spain would pay an urgent contribution to UNRWA via the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID).