The European Union’s foreign policy Chief, Josep Borrell has issued a statement saying that EU funding to the UNRWA has “not been suspended.”
This was in response to an announcement made on Monday, January 29, 2024, that the European Union intends to consider the future of payments to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) “in light of the very serious allegations” made last week alleging involvement of staff in Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
“Ongoing funding commitments by the EU have been implemented and funding has not been suspended,” a statement from Josep Borrell’s office said.
“The role of UNRWA is vital in the current circumstances in Gaza,” the statement added. “2 million people desperately need the aid provided by UNRWA and other UN agencies.”
Borrell welcomed “swift and decisive measures taken by UNRWA” in light of “very serious allegations against a number of UNRWA staff members” and said, “the EU will determine upcoming funding decisions in light of the outcome of the investigation.”
The European Union is one of UNRWA’s largest donors, providing around one-tenth of the UN agency’s funding per 2022 figures.
No money is due to UNRWA under current programmes until February, a spokesperson for the Commission said on Monday.
“UNWRA is a partner with which the Commission works intensively on the ground, both for humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and also more generally for development aid. And as such, it is absolutely normal, that we would request that these allegations are investigated and clarified since we are one of the major donors,” said the spokesperson.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the UN was working to “swiftly and efficiently” investigate the allegations and that “the contracts of the staff members directly involved have been terminated.”
“At this point, the outlook for UNRWA and the millions of people it serves, not only in Gaza, but also in East Jerusalem, in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, is very bleak,” Dujarric added.
Meanwhile, New Zealand on Tuesday became the latest country to suspend funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon disclosed that New Zealand had paused funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) until Israeli allegations against some of its staff are investigated.
Amnesty Criticizes Countries’ Decision To Cut Funds To UNRWA
Amnesty International accused several governments of acting inhumanely by withholding funds for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
In a statement, Amnesty called on countries to reverse their decision that would cause “further suffering to 2 million Palestinians, who are already facing the risk of genocide and an engineered famine”.
“Norway, Spain, Ireland and Belgium are among states that have announced they will not suspend funding, recognizing the vital role that UNRWA continues to play in the distribution of humanitarian aid to those in desperate need,” the rights group said.
Amnesty’s Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard said that it was “disgraceful” that the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia, and France had cut aid to UNRWA.
“The state of Israel and right-wing groups have for years led a smear campaign against UNRWA, which plays a key role in protecting Palestinians’ right of return to their lands,” Amnesty said.
Additionally, twenty-one aid organisations, including ActionAid, Oxfam and Save the Children, issued a joint statement in support of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA.
“We are outraged that some donors have united to suspend funding for UNRWA … amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” the organisations said.
“UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza,” the organisations, many of which also provide humanitarian assistance in the besieged Palestinian enclave, wrote.
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