U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Wednesday that U.S. President Joe Biden´s administration has begun resuming U.S. assistance to the Palestinians and the UNRWA Relief and Works Agency.
"The United States is pleased to announce that we are working with Congress planning to resume U.S. economic, development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, including $75 million in economic and development assistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, $10 million for peace-building programs through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $150 million in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)," Blinken said in a press release.
"We are also resuming vital security assistance programs. All assistance will be provided in accordance with United States law," the US secretary declared.
“Economic assistance includes supporting the recovery of small and medium-sized companies from the effects of Covid-19, supporting families in need to access basic humanitarian needs, such as food and clean water, and aiding Palestinian civil society. This funding will also support the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, as it continues,” Blinken explained. Providing necessary and life-saving treatments to the Palestinians, and this funding is in addition to the 15 million dollars in humanitarian aid to confront the Covid-19 pandemic and food insecurity announced by the United States last March.
Blinken stressed: "The United States resumes its support for UNRWA services, including the education of more than 500,000 Palestinian children and girls, thus providing hope and stability in the five UNRWA fields of operations in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Funding also provides UNRWA with critical assistance for the Covid virus." 19, including health care, medicine and medical supplies, as well as cash and food assistance for families not severely affected by COVID-19.
The minister added in his statement: “The United States is strongly committed to ensuring that our partnership with UNRWA enhances neutrality, accountability and transparency, as is the case with all our engagements with UN institutions, and the United States must be at the negotiating table (in this compromise) to ensure that reforms enhance competencies. And it corresponds to our interests and values. "
The minister said, "US foreign assistance to the Palestinian people serves important American interests and values, provides crucial relief to those who need it most, promotes economic development, and supports Israeli-Palestinian understanding, security coordination and stability. It is also consistent with the values ​​and interests of our allies and partners." "The United States is committed to promoting prosperity, security, and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians in tangible ways in the near term, which is important in and of itself, but also as a means of progress toward a negotiated two-state solution."
Minister Blinken concluded his statement by noting that the United States encourages other donors to support programs and activities that work towards the common goal of stability and progress for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
