The European Fee (EC) announced Friday that it has elevated assist for Palestinians by allocating an additional EUR 68 million by way of worldwide companions, including to the EUR 82 million already designated for the UN Aid and Works Company (UNRWA) in 2024, totaling EUR 150 million. Moreover, EUR 125 million of humanitarian assist for Palestinians in 2024 has been allotted, with EUR 16 million contracted on Friday.
The EC, in a press launch, clarified that it reviewed its funding choice for UNRWA in mild of serious allegations implicating UNRWA employees within the October 7 assaults. Moreover, the EC thought-about actions the UN took and required commitments from UNRWA. The press launch additionally welcomes the UN’s investigation and an impartial evaluation group to make sure neutrality and tackle breaches. It additional knowledgeable that the UNRWA has agreed to evaluation its employees, launch an EU-appointed audit, and strengthen its inside investigation division. Due to this fact, with mutual understanding confirmed, the EC has determined to proceed with the help.
President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen added:
We stand by the Palestinian folks in Gaza and elsewhere within the area. Harmless Palestinians mustn’t need to pay the value for the crimes of terrorist group Hamas. They face horrible circumstances, placing their lives in danger due to an absence of entry to adequate meals and different fundamental wants. That’s the reason we’re reinforcing our assist to them this 12 months by an extra EUR 68 million.
This choice follows a Wednesday announcement, which acknowledged that a maintain was placed on further funding to UNRWA till the tip of February because of allegations concerning employees involvement within the October 7 assaults. Moreover, it acknowledged future funding selections would rely upon the result of a UN investigation, with expectations for UNRWA to comply with an audit by EU-appointed consultants and strengthen inside investigation processes. A evaluation of employees involvement within the assaults was additionally anticipated.
A number of nations, together with the US and Canada, have suspended their funding for the UNRWA after experiences emerged that 12 UNRWA employees members had been a part of the October 7 Hamas offensive on Israel and that much more members had hyperlinks in a technique or one other to the group which has been designated as a terrorist outfit by a number of nations, together with the US and Canada, and the EU.
