Israel Matzav

UNRWA balances its budget... by selling food?

You would think with all the billions of dollars in international aid money that UNRWA gets for re-settling 'Palestinian refugees' keeping the 'Palestinians' as 'refugees,' UNRWA would at least be able to balance its budget. You'd be wrong. The 'Palestinian Authority' in Gaza is claiming that - like Hamas - UNRWA is selling food on the commercial market. But this time the food apparently is not stolen. UNRWA is accused of importing basic supplies like rice and sugar on its own and selling them to the private sector.

As-Sarraj said UNRWA employees were involved in bringing truckloads of goods into the Gaza Strip under title of the agency and selling them to the private sector, and called the act “illegal.” He said he brought the accusations to UNRWA’s attention Monday night.

“We seized three truckloads of rice and sugar [being sold to] merchants of the private sector through UNRWA, and the [PA] coordination committee had no idea. UNRWA does not have the right to use its special position [in the Strip] to engage with the private sector.”

As-Sarraj also claimed that UNRWA is investigating the issue.

It's hard to understand As-Sarraj's objection. Does he object to the increased supply of food that spoils the image of 'starving Palestinians'? Does he object to food being imported over which the 'Palestinian Authority' has no control and for which it therefore cannot skim a tax off the top? And for that matter, since when does Hamas allow a 'PA coordination committee' to run anything in the Gaza Strip?

This story is very strange. If I were a 'Palestinian' living in Gaza, I'd be happy for the increased food supply (after all, if supply goes up while demand remains constant price goes down - that's basic economics) and I'd be ticked off at the 'Palestinian Authority' for ruining the supply. On the other hand, one has to wonder about UNRWA's motivations: Is it motivated by genuine humanitarian concern and a desire to increase the food supply in the Strip, or is UNRWA trying to make some extra money on the backs of ordinary 'Palestinians'?

Hmmm.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:20 AM