By David Frankfurter
Jordan - a country whose population is over 50% Palestinian - is not found on the list of donors in the last published accounts of the Palestinian Authority. Jordan also doesn't appear on the list of donors to UNRWA's emergency appeals to support Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Most recent accounts (2005, 2006) show that Jordan makes a token annual donation of around $660,000 to UNRWA's general budget. Pretty paltry considering that according to its 2008 - 2009 budget, UNRWA plans to spend $11.9m in Jordan, providing employment for some 7,600 people.
Jordan's government news service reports that when it did send a convoy of aid via UNRWA to Gazan Palestinians last week, armed gunmen hijacked it. Meanwhile, UNRWA has asked not to send any more aid convoys for the moment.
I guess that is why Jordan has been so reluctant to donate money to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza - whether directly or via UNRWA. As "insiders", they have always known that aid to the Palestinians is highly likely to be diverted to corruption and violence. Again, as "insiders", they are reluctant to say so in public - unless, of course, it is THEIR aid being stolen.
Caveat emptor.
First highlighted by David Frankfurter at http://dfrankfurter.livejournal.com/115293.html
Wow...I am shocked as well as surprised that this would happen!
/wise acre filter OFF
Posted by: Bill Brewer | March 11, 2009 at 16:34