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Palestinian refugee Salah Abed does not want help from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), but he is also worried about losing him.
This 57-year-old man was born a refugee just like his four children.
He is one of five million Palestinians affected by the US decision to stop funding UNRWA, which runs schools attended by its children and still provides family with staple foods such as flour, oil and milk.
"We [he and his parents] were expelled from our city, Sumsum, in 1948, "he said.
"What the United States should have done first before such a decision [over UNRWA], is to solve the problem of refugees. "
"Let's go back to our cities, then [US President Donald] Trump could cut UNRWA funding and put an end to the help. "
The United States was the largest donor to UNRWA, providing nearly 30% of its funding.
But he said the operation of UNRWA was "irretrievably flawed" and complained of the Arab countries – and Iran – that did not bring their share of support.
The Israeli government has expressed strong support for the US decision.
A key American criticism was that the children of Palestinian refugees are also granted refugee status.
He wants this to change, even though questions about the Palestinians' right of return to their former homes – and a Palestinian state – remain unresolved.
Salah Abed said that the United States is threatening the rights of Palestinian refugees.
"Trump can not take us away right now," he said.
"We have the right to return to our towns and villages because this UN resolution was passed to give Palestinians the right to return and get compensation."
The United States had already cut $ 417 million from UNRWA this year, before announcing it would put an end to funding.
This has forced UNRWA to cut programs and staff in the clinics, schools and food distribution centers that it manages.
Emad El-Aour, the medical officer of the 22 UNRWA clinics in Gaza, said it had seriously affected people's lives.
"Many people will lose their jobs, more than 116 employees, 800 other employees will work part time," he said.
"So, losing a job in Gaza is life-threatening because there is no other way to work."
"All services will be allocated to Palestinians, not just health [but] … Food coupons, social services, emergency services. "
The layoffs will affect patients like Adham Abu Sharikh, one of more than 4,000 Palestinian protesters who were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers in May and June.
The 28-year-old receives physiotherapy at an UNRWA clinic for a gunshot wound in his leg.
"I'm getting free treatment from UNRWA now [but] If the UN stops financing these services, we can not afford it, "he said.
Funding cuts and the issue of refugee status have enormous implications for Palestinian children, half a million of whom attend United Nations schools in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Magd Johar is a nine-year-old student at the Jalazon refugee camp in the West Bank.
"School is very important to us, not only because of education, but here we are unloading our energy," she said.
"Children living in refugee camps do not have any entertainment programs or other social activities."
"Stopping funding from UNRWA is a very bad thing".
Fear of radicalization
There are fears – including within the Israeli Defense Force – that the reduction of education could lead to further radicalization of Palestinian youth.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbule said that the agency's schools played an important role in reducing conflict.
"UNRWA has made a tremendous contribution not only to human dignity, but also to reducing the risks of stability and security in the region," he said.
"There is no alternative to UNRWA at this stage – it's a much safer strategy to support us."
Topics:
foreign aid,
world politics,
donald-trump,
refugees
unrest-conflict-and-war
occupied Palestinian territory,
Israel,
United States
