Vice President Mike Pence, speaking before an advocacy organization known as In Defense of Christians, announced a major policy change that Christians persecuted in the Middle East have long-waited to hear.
Pence declared that the United States would stop funding what he deemed “ineffective” United Nations relief efforts to aid religious minorities terrorized by the Islamic State.
Rather, the U.S. will provide funding directly to those groups through the U.S. Agency for International Development.
BREAKING: @VP Pence just said WH is issuing a directive tonight forcing @StateDept and @USAID to bypass the United Nations and work directly with Christians in Iraq to help prevent their extinction — this has been months in the making.
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) October 26, 2017
Pence explained that the previous administration contributed over $1 billion in humanitarian aid to the Middle East, but did so through the United Nations.
Much of that aid however, never made it to its intended targets.
The Christian Post reported, “Displaced Christians and other religious minorities have not received much help to rebuild their destroyed ancient communities even though the U.S. has given more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid and hundreds of millions in reconstruction aid.”
“My friends, those days are over,” Pence declared.
“Our fellow Christians and all who are persecuted in the Middle East should not have to rely on multinational institutions when America can help them directly,” the Vice President explained. “Tonight, it is my privilege to announce that President Trump has ordered the State Department to stop funding ineffective relief efforts at the United Nations.”
“From this day forward,” Pence added, “America will provide support directly to persecuted communities through USAID.”
We will no longer rely on @UN alone to assist persecuted Christians in the wake of genocide & atrocities of terrorist groups. #idcsummit2017 pic.twitter.com/bV9DdpVfQR
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 25, 2017
At the World Summit In Defense of Persecuted Christians in May, Pence claimed “throughout the world, no people of faith today face greater hostility or hatred than the followers of Christ.”
Now, he has been directed by President Trump to travel to the Middle East and “deliver the message that it is time to bring an end to the persecution of Christians.”
.@POTUS asked me to go to the Middle East in Dec. to deliver the message that it is time to bring an end to the persecution of Christians. pic.twitter.com/IiOU28UFpb
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 25, 2017
“The United States will work hand-in-hand from this day forward with faith-based groups and private organizations to help those who are persecuted for their faith,” Pence said.
“America will support these people in their hour of need.”
Do you support the Trump administration ending funding to the UN and sending it directly to persecuted Christians in the Middle East? Tell us why or why not below!
