GAZA CITY (Dispatches) –The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has officially agreed to launch a fund that could in part ease the hardship caused by the United States slashing its funding to Palestinians.
The OIC will establish a waqf (endowment) fund in support of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
"The waqf fund will serve as a financial deposit to the Palestinian refugees under the umbrella of the Islamic Development Bank, in a bid to raise funds from countries and institutions," Yousef al-Othaimeen, OIC secretary-general, announced in a statement. "The fund will also help strengthen the financial situation of UNRWA and support its activities in the humanitarian relief and development areas."
Othaimeen noted the final decision was made March 1 during an OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Abu Dhabi, though talks had begun much earlier.
Established in 1949, UNRWA aims to serve 5.4 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank (including East al-Quds) and the Gaza Strip. Its services include education, relief, health care, social services and infrastructure.
Ahmed Abu Houli, head of the PLO's Palestinian Refugee Affairs Department, told Al-Monitor, "The OIC decision to support UNRWA [was discussed at] the Conference of Supervisors on Palestinian Affairs in the Host Arab Countries," held Dec. 9 by the Arab League in Cairo. "Recommendations were made that the UN agency should continue to provide aid to Palestinian refugees.”
The fund will primarily aim to sustain UNRWA's services through money from OIC member states amounting to half a billion dollars, housed within the Islamic Development Bank, which will in turn invest it in projects in the Arab region. Profits will go to bolster UNRWA’s programs, Abu Houli explained.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) censured as "inhumane and reckless” a recent decision by the United States to cut some $300 million in planned funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).
"The US administration's decision to terminate all funding to UNRWA is a cruel and irresponsible move targeting the most vulnerable segment of Palestinian society,” Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said.
She added, "The Palestinian refugees are already the victims, who have lost their homes, livelihoods and security as a result of the creation of Israel, and once again, they are being victimized by the U.S. administration in support of Israel's decades-long military occupation and impunity.”
The senior Palestinian official further noted that UNRWA provides 5.3 million Palestinian refugees residing in 58 refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria "with a sense of hope and security through its vital services, support and opportunities for work, growth and development.”