Sweden announces resumption of UNRWA funds
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Sweden announces an opening disbursement of $20 million for UNRWA amid promises of extra checks on its spending and personnel.
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United Nations and Red Crescent workers prepare the aid for distribution to Palestinians at UNRWA warehouse in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 (AP)
Sweden revealed Saturday that it was going to proceed with providing aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) with an opening disbursement of $20 million after receiving promises of extra checks on its spending and personnel.
"The government has allocated 400 million kronor to UNRWA for the year 2024. Today's decision concerns a first payment of 200 million kronor," the Swedish government revealed in a statement.
It stated that in return for providing aid, UNRWA will "allow controls, independent audits, to strengthen internal supervision and extra controls of personnel."
Spain to give UNRWA an additional 20mn euros
Spain said on March 8 that it would give an additional 20 million euros to the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, amid endless Israeli attempts to dismantle it.
Following unverified Israeli claims about a dozen UNRWA employees allegedly taking part in the Palestinian Resistance's operation on October 7, several countries — including the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan — suspended funding to the agency. The total frozen funds amount to $450 million — the equivalent of more than half the funds UNRWA received in 2023.
The United Nations fired the employees accused by "Israel" and has begun an internal probe. But Phillipe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, has reiterated that "Israel" provided no evidence against the accused agency employees.
On March 4, "Israel's" ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, claimed that UNRWA's work in Gaza was over, calling for the defunding and dismantling of the organization.
UNRWA employs around 30,000 people in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria -- with about 13,000 staff in the Gaza Strip.
The European Commission, recognizing steps taken by the UN, said on March 1 that it would release 50 million euros ($54 million) in UNRWA funding.
