Palestinian Refugees are about to Face Yet Another Crisis

Since 2000, with support from the United States, UNRWA has been implementing the Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance (HRCRT) Programme in its schools to promote an understanding of human rights, tolerance, good citzenship, communication skills, non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution. All UNRWA teachers in all five fields of operations have now been trained on methods of integrating these topics into their daily classes. © 2015 UNRWA Photo

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, known as UNRWA, is facing a crisis. This is the humanitarian agency that provides relief for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. This includes running hospitals and schools that serve about half a million children.

Typically, the United States has provided about one third of UNRWA's overall budget, judging the organization to be a source of stability in an otherwise volatile region.  The Trump administration, however, has frozen US payments to the humani…