UN’s Palestine refugee agency starts fundraising drive

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA (AA) - The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has begun a global fundraising campaign after the U.S. administration reduced financial aid to the organization earlier this year.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the “Dignity is Priceless” campaign would continue until a “sustainable solution” was found to the agency’s financial woes.

Krahenbuhl recently met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to whom he expressed his appreciation to the Turkish government and people for their ongoing support for Palestinian refugees.

“Turkish support will be of the utmost importance in this [fundraising] campaign,” he said.

Early this year, U.S. President Donald Trump drastically reduced U.S. assistance to UNRWA following the fierce Palestinian reaction to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“We've already lost $300 million,” Krahenbuhl lamented. “The decision [to reduce aid] was announced in January and we immediately began plans for a global campaign aimed at countries, the private sector and individuals.”

According to the UNRWA chief, the campaign aims to eventually raise a total of $450 million for the refugee agency.

Krahenbuhl also expressed his appreciation for pledges by President Erdogan to step up support for the Palestinian people during the upcoming month of Ramadan.