The German government intends to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) with a sum of 45 million euros.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Development Cooperation in Berlin announced today, Monday, that these funds will be provided for the organization’s regional work in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. The ministries noted that these contributions come as part of regular regional support allocated to UNRWA.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is still unclear whether the frozen support for UNRWA in the Gaza Strip will be resumed, and the ministry pointed out that the review process on this matter is ongoing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributes 23 million euros to this installment (45 million euros), while the Ministry of Cooperation contributes 22 million euros. It is expected that 15 million euros will be allocated for basic health and education services for Palestinian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and 7 million euros for the “Cash for Work” program for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, as explained by the ministries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds assistance for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, in addition to food aid in the West Bank.
Israel accused more than 10 UNRWA employees of participating in the attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7th. As a result, several Western countries, including the United States and Germany, which are the largest donors to the UN agency, decided to suspend their funding for the organization.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had appointed an independent group led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to assess UNRWA and its “political neutrality.
The recent funding cuts to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have sparked significant concern amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Several major donors, including the United States, Canada, and Germany, have suspended their contributions following allegations against a dozen UNRWA staff members. These allegations, presented by Israel, accused staff members of colluding with Hamas in the attacks on October 7 that resulted in significant casualties and hostages. This move has led to fears of an immediate humanitarian impact, with essential services and aid possibly coming to a halt within weeks.
UNRWA, established in 1949, plays a critical role in providing aid to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The agency’s operations include primary and vocational education, healthcare, relief and social services, infrastructure and camp improvement, microfinance, and emergency response. Funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, the agency’s largest donors in 2022 included the United States, Germany, the EU, and Sweden, representing a significant portion of its overall funding.
