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Rabat – Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced that representatives from five countries, which had previously suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), have confirmed their intention to resume their contributions within the next few weeks.
Shtayyeh made the announcement after hosting a meeting with Western ambassadors and consuls at his office on Thursday, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
During the discussions, Canada was explicitly mentioned as one of the countries pledging to reinstate its financial support to UNRWA.
The exact details of the commitments from the other four countries remain undisclosed. However, the announcement signals a positive turn for the UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees.
Several Western countries, including Austria, Germany, the US, Britain, and Australia, decided to pause their funding for the UNRWA.
The move came following Israeli accusations regarding the alleged involvement of a small number of UNRWA employees in the attack that Hamas launched on Israel on October 7.
Austria’s Foreign Ministry called for a comprehensive investigation into the accusations.
“Until these allegations are fully clarified, and there is clarity about the resulting consequences, Austria, in coordination with international partners, will temporarily suspend all further payments to UNRWA,” said the ministry in a press release last week.
The decision by these countries triggered widespread protests in Jordan and Lebanon as hundreds of demonstrators decried the cut in funding for the UNRWA.
In addition, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the concerned governments to reconsider their decision.
The UN agency has been a critical source of support for Gazans amid the Israeli Occupation Forces’ bombardment.
“Two million civilians in Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA,” the UN said in a statement.
The resumption of funding from these countries is anticipated to contribute to UNRWA’s efforts in providing essential services to Gazans, the vast majority of whom lack access to clean water, food, and healthcare.
