All EU donors have now resumed their support’ to Unrwa, says Josep Borrell

Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice-president of the European Commission, said that all EU donors had now resumed their support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa).

In a social media post, Borrell described Unrwa as “an indispensable lifeline in Gaza and the region”.

I commend the initiative in favour of @UNRWA, an indispensable lifeline in Gaza and in the region.

All EU donors have now resumed their support to the Agency, still in critical financial situation.

We have to step up our support; the needs are only growing. https://t.co/wOHmu3RdQx

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 23, 2024

Allegations by Israel of the involvement of Unrwa staff in the 7 October Hamas attack led major donors in January to cut their funding to the agency.

At the end of April, Germany said it would restore cooperation and funding to Unrwa operations in the Gaza Strip after an independent review said Israel had not provided evidence to back up its claims.

Germany’s decision followed those made earlier by several other major donors, including Australia, Canada, Sweden and Japan, to restore ties with Unwra.