The Canadian government has decided to pull its funding from United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and direct the money towards specific projects.The announcement was made following Vic Toews’ five-day trip through the Middle East. Toews, president of the Treasury Board in Canada, stated that there would not be a reduction in the funding sent by Canada but that it would be “redirected in accordance with Canadian values.”
More specifically, the funding will be used to provide money to help train police and prosecutors, and build courthouses. According to Toews this will, “ensure accountability and foster democracy in the PA.’
UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, and was intended to be a temporary measure to deal with the burgeoning refugee crisis following the 1948 war. There efforts were again forced to increase after the Six Day war of 1967.
