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Israel-Palestine |
’Donor fatigue’ on Mid-East aid |
2004-06-07 |
Monday, 7 June, 2004, 18:32 GMT 19:32 UK Nations have been called upon to boost funds to prevent the collapse of a UN Costly investigative research budgets and incredibly liberal per diem allowances have still provided insufficient motivation for UN operatives to uncover whether this has anything to do with how Palestinian terrorists have alienated every aid donor with an IQ above room temperature (as measured in Centigrade). The largest conference yet on the issue opened in Geneva on Monday, attended by 70 countries and 30 organisations. (12 course haut cuisine menu to follow) Some delegates told of "donor fatigue" amid repeatedly failed attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it would be "tragic and worrying" if Unrwa’s work could not continue. What’s really tragic is that Kofi Annan continues to consume vital oxygen supplies rightfully belonging to those who make more constructive contributions to world society like, for instance, ticks and leeches. "We are already seeing the consequences of under-funding ... in over-crowded classrooms and clinics, and in decaying Unrwa infrastructure," he said in a message to the conference. "There is real concern that if these trends continue, the key human development strengths of the Palestine refugee population will begin to unravel." Exactly according to Israel’s carefully laid plans. Role model He pointed out that the number of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank relying on Unrwa for food aid had risen from 130,000 to 1.1 million since September 2000. In the same period, the number of Palestinians living below the poverty line had tripled from 20% to 60%, with an increasing reliance on Unrwa’s health services. Exactly according to Yasser Arafat’s carefully laid plans. Refugees - a thorny issue Although most agree that a political solution is the only answer in the long-term, Unrwa stresses that politics are not on the agenda at Geneva, says the BBC’s Imogen Foulkes. Unrwa chief, Peter Hansen, told the conference that investing in young people’s education could bring peace. "Will their role model be the suicide bomber or will it be a graduate of a teacher’s college who has a future as a productive member of society? And that is really a very major choice we are facing now." The US is the largest contributor to the agency, and its donations have kept pace. But those of European countries and other donors have been declining in recent years. Wow! Europe contributes less to their own favorite cause than America does. Now there’s a shocker! Frustrations US Assistant Secretary of State Arthur Dewey urged donors to "do their share". "This cannot continue, donors must restore previous levels of assistance so that 2003 CASH SHORTFALL EXPRESSED IN ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS Planned budget - $321 Actual budget - $310 Planned Emergency Fund - $196 Actual Emergency Fund - $93 Life in Jordan’s refugee camps Some donor countries have been frustrated to see their aid On the eve of the conference, a senior World Bank official warned that In other late breaking news, Pope and bear. Tape at 11:00 |
Posted by:Zenster |
#7 time for welfare for splodeydopes to end! Make them scramble to feed their (9+ kids) families and they'll have less time to seethe and dig tunnels I am entirely unable to accept such an ill-thought-out approach to this complex and diffult to solve problem. You left out the "humiliating" part. |
Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-08 1:54:21 AM |
#6 Zero out Jizya to the Palis and use the money for a good cause, weapons for the black Sudanese. |
Posted by: ed 2004-06-08 12:37:38 AM |
#5 The US should cease all funding to the Palestinians as long as they support terror organizations such as Hamas, Hizbollah, Al Aqsa, Fatah, and al Quaeda, in other words, immediately and forever. |
Posted by: RWV 2004-06-08 12:02:45 AM |
#4 time for welfare for splodeydopes to end! Make them scramble to feed their (9+ kids) families and they'll have less time to seethe and dig tunnels |
Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-07 11:38:06 PM |
#3 Why are we the largest donors to both the Paleos and Israel? Let's pick a side and back it. Let the French have the other and get it over with. |
Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-06-07 10:30:28 PM |
#2 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it would be "tragic and worrying" if Unrwa’s work could not continue. What, for another 50 friggin years? |
Posted by: tu3031 2004-06-07 10:24:53 PM |
#1 Awww. Are the poor Paleos going to have to find non-exploding jobs now? |
Posted by: someone 2004-06-07 10:11:53 PM |