Vocabulary:
- cut /kuht/
- shortfall /SHAWRT-fawl/
- voluntary /VOL-uhn-ter-ee/
- restore /ri-STAWR/
- indigent /IN-di-juhnt/
[noun] to lower the number or amount of something
They announced that a salary cut of 10% will be implemented for the next month.
[noun] a failure to meet an expectation or need
There was a shortfall in last week’s delivery, so they ran out of stock.
[adjective] done or given by free will
Participation in the activity is completely voluntary.
[verb] to bring something back into existence
Winning the first set helped restore the national volleyball team’s confidence.
[adjective] having no money or anything else of value; very poor
The foundation was built to help indigent people.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) might suffer budget cuts beginning July 2018. This is due to the United States (U.S.) reducing their aid contribution from $360 million last year to only $60 million this year. The agency has about a $250 million budget shortfall. Pierre Krähenbühl, the commissioner general of UNRWA, said that this is the worst financial crisis that the agency had faced.
UNRWA’s yearly spending relies on voluntary contributions of the 193 member states of the United Nations (U.N.). Trump administration officials said that aid would be restored if structural changes in the agency would be made. Krähenbühl said that other countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and Qatar, offered about $50 million in emergency funds after the U.S. announced the aid reduction back in January. UNRWA is an agency that offers aid to indigent Palestinians in Gaza and Syria.
UNRWA’s yearly spending relies on voluntary contributions of the 193 member states of the United Nations (U.N.). Trump administration officials said that aid would be restored if structural changes in the agency would be made. Krähenbühl said that other countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and Qatar, offered about $50 million in emergency funds after the U.S. announced the aid reduction back in January. UNRWA is an agency that offers aid to indigent Palestinians in Gaza and Syria.
True or False:
- UNRWA is an agency that provides help to Palestinians.
- The aid reduction was announced by the U.S. in March.
- The funds of UNRWA are from mandatory contributions by the member states of the United Nations.
- Other countries offered to provide financial aid to UNRWA.
- The U.S. provided UNRWA with financial aid amounting to $60 million last year.
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think about the situation that UNRWA is experiencing?
- Do you agree with the U.S. decision to reduce their financial aid to UNRWA? Why or why not?
- Why do you think financial aid is important to UNRWA?
- What do you think are ways to avoid a financial crisis? Please explain each.
- Have you ever provided financial aid to someone or a group of people? Please explain your answer.
Express Your Opinion:
- “Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.” – Nelson Mandela
- “Money is not the only answer, but it makes a difference.” – Barack Obama
- “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” – Henry David Thoreau