Belgium extends contribution to ailing UN agency for Palestinian refugees | Abroad

Until a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue is worked out, UNRWA’s mandate remains essential, says Gennez. The agency provides shelter, food, health care and education to nearly 6 million people in Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Jordan. It operates more than 700 schools and 140 hospitals and organizes psychosocial assistance and summer camps for hundreds of thousands of children.

However, at the UNRWA donor conference in New York last week, it appeared that the agency is in danger of getting into trouble. Of the necessary 300 million euros in new funds, only 107 million euros have been raised. If additional funds are not found soon, UNRWA will have to start suspending activities from September, says Gennez.

“The situation of Palestinian refugees remains hopeless. They have been living in uncertainty for 75 years. The latest wave of violence in the Gaza Strip makes this year the deadliest for Palestinians since 2005. And the war in Ukraine and high food and energy prices have put pressure on many governments in Europe and the West to cut their contributions to other humanitarian aid projects. to reduce crises”, says the minister. “That is why it is so important now to maintain our support for UNRWA. The Palestinian refugees can continue to count on our solidarity. We also call on other countries to do the same, or if possible, increase their contributions.”

Belgian support to UNRWA amounts to 11.5 million euros in 2023. 7 million of this goes to the general operation of the agency – the so-called core funding – and 4.5 million goes to specific projects.