AhlulBayt News Agency: Japan has announced it will lift its suspension of funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, whose efforts are needed to confront the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, who met UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini last week, confirmed the resumption of funding to UNRWA in a news conference.
“Japan will lift the moratorium on its financial contributions to UNRWA and provide assistance while ensuring and confirming the appropriateness of Japan’s funds,” Kamikawa told reporters on Tuesday.
She said the agency’s role in Gaza is “indispensable” as it works to improve governance and manage risks, adding that about $35 million of originally planned funding is ready to be released.
The European Commission, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Finland have also lifted similar funding pauses in recent weeks.
Japan was one of 16 countries that suspended funding to UNRWA after the Israeli government claimed that 12 of the agency’s staff participated in Hamas’s cross-border operation on October 7, 2023.
The Israeli government, which has sought for long years to shut down the agency and undermine its mission, alleged later that more than 450 UNRWA employees are “military operatives in terror groups in Gaza.”
Similar claims have also been made repeatedly by the Israeli government to justify the massive killing and kidnapping operations that have been carried out by its army in Gaza.
The UN, which has launched an investigation into such claims against its employees, has said Israel has not provided it with evidence to support the allegations.
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Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, who met UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini last week, confirmed the resumption of funding to UNRWA in a news conference.
“Japan will lift the moratorium on its financial contributions to UNRWA and provide assistance while ensuring and confirming the appropriateness of Japan’s funds,” Kamikawa told reporters on Tuesday.
She said the agency’s role in Gaza is “indispensable” as it works to improve governance and manage risks, adding that about $35 million of originally planned funding is ready to be released.
The European Commission, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Finland have also lifted similar funding pauses in recent weeks.
Japan was one of 16 countries that suspended funding to UNRWA after the Israeli government claimed that 12 of the agency’s staff participated in Hamas’s cross-border operation on October 7, 2023.
The Israeli government, which has sought for long years to shut down the agency and undermine its mission, alleged later that more than 450 UNRWA employees are “military operatives in terror groups in Gaza.”
Similar claims have also been made repeatedly by the Israeli government to justify the massive killing and kidnapping operations that have been carried out by its army in Gaza.
The UN, which has launched an investigation into such claims against its employees, has said Israel has not provided it with evidence to support the allegations.
/129