The European Union to pays 50 million Euros to UNRWA
The European Commission will pay 50 million Euros ($54 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), but will postpone payment of 32 million Euros while it looks into Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 attack. October in Israel.
The Commission also stated in an announcement on Friday that it would increase the total aid provided to the Palestinians by 68 million Euros this year to help civilians facing “horrific conditions” during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
UNRWA provides basic aid and services to Palestinians trapped in the Gaza war, but was thrown into crisis after Israel claimed in January that 12 of the agency’s 13,000 employees in the Strip were involved in a Hamas attack on October 7 that Israel says killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages.
UNRWA dismissed all the accused employees, but warned that its operations would be “at serious risk” after many donors, including the United States, Britain and several European Union countries, decided to suspend funding or said they wouldn’t agree to provide new funding until the issue was resolved.
The European Commission, one of UNRWA’s major donors, is owed 82 million Euros to the agency so far.
But the commission said it would now pay 60% and the rest in two installments of 16 million Euros each while it addresses the problems resulting from the allegations.
“The first transfer is a really important step to ease the situation in Gaza,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X.
He added, “By continuing to fund UNRWA, the European Union recognizes that the UN related agency is an indispensable actor”.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that the commission’s decision will support UNRWA in providing “life-saving and basic services” to Palestinian refugees, but he added that UNRWA needs 82 million Euros, the full amount, as soon as possible.
He continued, “The full disbursement of the European Union’s contribution is essential for the agency’s ability to continue its operations in a very turbulent region”.
In addition to dismissing the accused employees, the United Nations opened an investigation into the Israeli allegations and requested a review of UNRWA’s commitment to neutrality.