After the budget last week, overall aid allocated to Palestine has been reduced.
The Australian Government will still be providing a fairly similar sum to UNRWA and other related humanitarian programs for operations in the region. The allocation for UNRWA for 2015-16 is $19.3 million, slightly down from $20.3 million in 2014-15. In addition, some $2.3 million will be available from global and regional aid allocations.
On the other hand, bilateral aid to Palestine has been reduced by 40% ($13.7 million). In this regard, Australia will give an estimated $20.5 million in bilateral funding for 2015-16, down from $34.2 million in 2014-15 (the $34.2 million does not include the additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance provided during 2014-15).
When these components are considered together, total Official Development Assistance to Palestine for 2015-16 is expected to total $42.1 million, down from $56.5 million in 2014-15, a total cut of 25% ($14.4 million).
To place this in context, total Australian Official Development Assistance for its world program fell by 20% ($1 billion) with this year’s budget.
General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific's photo.
'Australian Aid Cuts, 2014-15 compared to 2015-16. Chart Source: http://goo.gl/aWLjZQ'