US won’t allow its money to go toward helping refugees in Syria and Lebanon, UNRWA

United Nations aid group UNRWA alleges that US aid money pledged to the organization was specifically earmarked for refugee services in certain areas and could not be used for services in Syria and Lebanon.

This marks the first time the US has specifically exempted their funds from being used in those countries, according to Elizabeth Campbell, Director at The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The organization is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, and the United States has historically provided about one-third of UNRWA’s humanitarian budget, Campbell told Business Insider.

Last week, the US announced it would cut its aid to UNRWA by half, and pledged $60 million to the group. The US State Department said it was withholding another $65 million from the group until it made “unspecified reforms.”

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a press briefing that the $60 million the US has pledged to the group would be used to “sustain schools and health services” and ensure that “teachers and also health care providers can be paid their salaries.” The Department did not go into specifics about the services set to benefit by their aid contribution, but added that the US would like to “take a look at UNRWA, trying to make sure that the money is best spent.”

According to Campbell, all of UNRWA’s funding goes toward operating “700 schools across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan” and helps maintain operations in “140 clinics across the five areas.”

“This is the biggest funding crisis the Agency has ever experienced,” Campbell said. “None of the funding can be used toward Lebanon and Syria.”

Campbell says the organization was shocked to discover the US’ plans for major cuts to the organization. “We don’t know why this is the case. It’s the first time they have geographically earmarked funding to us, normally it goes to all branches.”

Campbell explained that the group’s operations are the same in each of their five branches.

“Our mandate is the same in those areas so we provide education, access to healthcare, and emergency relief and other services in all five areas.” Campbell said there was no distinct differences in the group’s contributions in Lebanon and Syria, other than the political climate.

BUSINESS INSIDER