France has committed to providing over 30 million euros ($32.4 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) this year to aid its operations amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the French foreign ministry announced.
Speaking to journalists, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine stated, “We will make our contributions while ensuring that the conditions are met for UNRWA to fulfill its missions in a spirit devoid of incitement to hatred and violence.”
Although Lemoine did not specify the timing of the next payment to the agency, it is expected to follow the usual quarterly schedule, with the next payment due in April.
Despite facing severe funding cuts, UNRWA’s chief informed Swiss media that the agency currently possesses sufficient funds to sustain operations until at least the end of May.
The agency has encountered financial difficulties since Israel accused numerous employees, out of its 13,000 workforce in the Strip, of involvement in Hamas’s attacks against Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 253. Israel has also alleged that around 1,500 employees have connections to terrorist groups.
