Before the Trump Administration started to stop U.S. funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); I expressed skepticism that this would have the intended effect because others would rush in to take Washington's place:
Even were U.S. funding to UNRWA ended, plenty of governments – and even individuals – could easily replace the $370 million, and have incentive to do so. Qatar could consolidate its role as protector of the Palestinians. Beijing could purchase a role at the heart of Arab politics. Moscow could reverse some of the damage of siding with Tehran. Carlos Slim, estimated by Forbes today to be worth $67.9 billion, could decide to burnish his Arab credentials. Worse yet, were any of them to fill the funding gap, the Trump administration would look ineffectual and isolated.
This blog tracks U.S. cuts and others' adding more funds to test the accuracy of that prediction.
The Trump administration cut $65 million from the $125 million tranche to UNRWA on condition of unspecified reforms. (January 16, 2019)
Jan. 17, 2018 update: Right on schedule, the Belgian government immediate disbursed $23 million to make up for the American cut. Who will be next? How fast will the $65 million be replaced? Will UNRWA even end up with extra funds as a result of the U.S. reduction?
Aug. 31, 2018 update: The State Department announced today about UNRWA that "The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation." Within minutes, the Times of Israel reported, the German government announced "it would boost funding to the beleaguered UN agency for Palestinian refugees and called for an international effort to sustain the aid body." This followed the Jordanian government stating "it would host a fundraiser at the United Nations headquarters in New York next month {September] to keep UNRWA afloat."
Sep. 4, 2018 update: UNRWA Commissioner Pierre Krähenbühl announced that the governments of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and others have contributed $238 million in extra funding to make up for the U.S. cuts.
Sep. 5, 2018 update: The British government increased its donation to UNRWA by $9 million, to $58.5 million.
Sep. 27, 2018 update: The Jordanian government has announced pledges to UNRWA of $118 million from Germany, Sweden, the European Union, Turkey, Japan, and others.
Sep. 29, 2018 update: The European Union announced a $46 million pledge to UNRWA but it's not clear if this is additional to the Sep. 27 amount or part of it.
Sep. 30, 2018 update: Israel Kasnett reports at JNS that UNRWA has raised only a total of $122 million to replace the $370 million in American money.
Oct. 14, 2018 update: Ottawa announced a US$38 million grant over two years.
