The UN agency has said the aid “comes at a critical time” and warned that the disbursement of all funds “to sustain relief operations” is “critical”.
The European Commission (EC) announced on Friday that it will pay the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) 50 million euros next week, and that it will increase emergency aid to the Palestinians by 68 million euros (to 82 million) in 2024. . .
The Commission said in a statement that it will continue with the planned payments to UNRWA after assessing the situation in light of the accusations made by Israel on January 24 which imply several UNRWA staff members in the October 7 attacksand took into account the measures taken by the UN and the commitments required by the Commission from the Agency.
In that sense, she celebrated the investigation opened by the government UN Office for Internal Oversight Services to shed light on these serious allegations, and commended the UN for setting up an independent assessment group led by former French minister Catherine Colonna to assess whether UNRWA is doing all it can.
It is specified that the second and third tranches of €16 million each “will be disbursed subject to the application of this agreement”, which provides for the possibility for the Commission to suspend or recover payments in the event that “information” comes to light . which points to significant weaknesses in the functioning of the internal control system’.
Aid ‘comes at a critical time’
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has stated that the “imminent” delivery of money from the European Commission “comes at a critical time”, and has warned that the disbursement of all funds is “key” to support aid operations in to stand firm.
The money “will support the agency’s efforts to maintain vital and essential services for Palestinian refugees across the region,” Lazzarini emphasized.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
