2024-03-01 15:33:45
The EU Commission wants to pay a further 68 million euros in emergency aid for the Palestinians this year. The Brussels authority announced today that the money would go to international partners such as the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. In addition, a planned 50 million euros are to be paid out next week to the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA), which has come under criticism.
Austria’s payments remain suspended. “The United Nations must be above reproach. We therefore welcome the investigations currently underway. Until the allegations have been clarified and there is clarity regarding the consequences, Austrian payments to UNRWA will remain suspended,” said the Foreign Ministry in Vienna in response to a request.
“Innocent Palestinians should not have to pay the price for the crimes of the terrorist group Hamas,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “They face horrific conditions that endanger their lives because they lack access to adequate food and other basic needs.”
Criticism and UNRWA
UNRWA recently warned that all work would have to be stopped within a few weeks if promised funds were not paid. Several Western countries, including Austria, suspended payments to UNRWA at the end of January.
The reason is Israeli allegations that employees of the aid organization were involved in the Hamas attack on the Israeli border area on October 7th. This is currently being investigated. Many civilians in the Gaza Strip are dependent on UN aid.
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