Sweden is paying to the UN Palestinian Relief Agency again – in view of new regulations for monitoring employees, but also the desolate supply situation in the Gaza Strip. The equivalent of 17.7 million euros was approved.
The Swedish government is again providing financial support to the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). The government in Stockholm announced that a payment of 200 million crowns (around 17.7 million euros) had been decided. The decision was made in view of the acute humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and against the background of new agreements on stricter controls.
The UN relief agency UNRWA came under heavy criticism in January. Some employees were accused of being involved in the October 7 massacre by the militant Islamist Hamas in Israel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres had promised a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. The collaboration with several employees was terminated.
“Needs in the Gaza Strip are acute”
Several Western countries temporarily suspended payments to UNRWA because of the allegations, including the two largest donors, the United States and Germany. Sweden is now also switching to Canada. “The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is devastating and the needs are acute,” said International Development Cooperation Minister Johan Forssell.
The Swedish government announced that the aid organization had agreed to strengthen internal supervision, allow independent auditing and enable additional controls on the workforce. Further disbursements would be made this year if UNRWA makes progress on agreed points.
Warning and hope from Lazzarini
The head of the UN Palestinian Relief Agency, Philippe Lazzarini, is cautiously optimistic that the organization can count on international support again. “I have the feeling that a number of countries that have decided to suspend their financial support are in the process of reviewing their position,” Lazzarini told Swiss broadcaster RTS.