The Harper government quietly announced it would discontinue Canada’s long-standing financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
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The Muslim Council of Calgary
5615-14 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2010
Muslim Council of Calgary Concerned by Termination of UNRWA Funding
CALGARY – The Muslim Council of Calgary (MCC), the representative body of the city’s 60,000 mainstream Muslims, today expressed serious concern regarding the federal government’s decision to redirect committed funding for Palestinians humanitarian aid towards building Palestinian prisons instead.
Last week, the Harper government quietly announced it would discontinue Canada’s long-standing financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and redirect the monies to strengthen the judicial system of the Palestinian Authority and other food assistance programs.
UNRWA provides assistance to 4.67 million Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the Middle East and administers programs in the areas of education, health and other social services in 59 Palestinian refugee camps in the occupied territories.
“Just as the Palestinian refugees are starting to get back on their feet in the occupied territories, our government is pulling the rug out from under them,” said MCC Chairman Nagah Hage.
“Does the Prime Minister actually think refugees need more prisons?”
“As a United Nations agency, UNRWA has long maintained vital support for Palestinians made refugees by war. By terminating their funding, we are very concerned that our government is sending the wrong message – that Canada supports maintaining a tragic situation in which a stateless and oppressed people suffer under an occupation that flouts international law,” said MCC spokesman David Liepert.
Please click here to send an email to the all Party leaders, as well as MPs in your locale, challenging them on this decision.
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CONTACT: David Liepert, MCC Spokesperson, 403.650.4025
