The main US government agency that distributes foreign aid raised “critical concerns” about a newly formed aid group’s ability to deliver food safely and effectively to Palestinians in Gaza, just days before the Trump administration announced $30m in funding for the organisation, CNN reported on Tuesday.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) in June wrote a 14-page confidential internal assessment criticising a request for funding submitted by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF). GHF was seeking $30m of its $100m operating costs from the State Department.
According to the assessment, which was obtained by CNN, at least nine elements normally required to obtain government funding were not included in the application, such as insufficient planning information ensuring Palestinians would actually receive aid.
One criticism was that the overall plan lacked “basic details” regarding a scheme to give out powdered baby formula in a Gaza area where clean drinking water is not available.
“I do not concur with moving forward with GHF given operational and reputational risks and lack of oversight," a USAID official said, concluding it would not be safe to move forward with the GHF organisation.
