Holocaust survivor foundation runs out of money The Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims suspended its benefits scheme for 2011 rejecting all further applications for financial aid on Thursday blaming a budgetary shortfall of £3.2 million caused by insufficient government funding. "This problem wasn't caused by the foundation but by the government of Israel, which on the one hand says that it cares for the survivors but on the other hand fails to allocate a budget," Rony Kalinsky, director of the foundation told Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot. There are around 200,000 survivors of the Holocaust living in Israel, of whom one third live in poverty, according to Tel Aviv based charity Aviv for Holocaust Survivors. To be eligible for financial support from the foundation, survivors must have a monthly income of less than £1,300. Last week, 6,000 valid applicants who have already had their requests for money approved were told they will now not be reimbursed "This sudden announcement of the closure of grants for 2012 is a direct hit to the thousands of Holocaust survivors who really need, rely and depend on this assistance," Aviva Silverman, the NGO's director, said. Ms Silverman has called for the Israeli government to intervene to "prevent further injury to survivors' benefits." State aid to Holocaust survivors has increased from around £5 million to £34 million, Israel's finance ministry has countered.