The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will receive a large sum of money from Norway, the Norwegian government’s press service reported on July 12.
“After nine months of war, the situation for the people of Gaza has become catastrophic. They lack everything. More and more people are going hungry. UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Norway is therefore increasing its support to UNRWA by a further NOK 100 million (over £8 million).”said Minister for International Development Ann Beat Christiansen Twinnerheim.
The increase was announced in conjunction with a meeting of UNRWA donors at UN headquarters in New York. Norway’s contribution to UNRWA this year will therefore be NOK 475 million.
Norwegian experts point out that due to the war, Israeli accusations, repeated attacks on the organization and the cessation of contributions from major donors, UNRWA is in a dire financial situation. UNRWA staff, schools and hospitals are attacked on a daily basis. In the past nine months, around 200 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza. In the past week alone, four schools have been destroyed by bombs, including two UNRWA schools. Dozens of people were killed, many of them children. UNRWA offices were attacked several times in East Jerusalem. In addition, UNRWA is subject to a number of administrative restrictions that increasingly hamper its activities in Palestine.
“The ability of UNRWA and other UN organizations to provide emergency relief, health services and education to people affected by war and conflict is fundamental to our global order, which is based on international law. I am shocked that in the last week alone, several schools in Gaza have been bombed and several civilians have been killed. Schools must be protected and not used for military purposes. We must protect and support UNRWA.”said Twinnereim.
At a meeting in New York on 12 July, Norway also called on other donor countries to increase support to UNRWA.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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