Today, the Commission has decided to allocate an additional €68 million to support the Palestinian population across the region to be implemented through international partners like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. This comes in addition to the foreseen €82 million of aid to be implemented through UNRWA in 2024, bringing the total to €150 million. The Commission will proceed to paying €50 million of the UNWRA envelope next week.
Furthermore, the Commission has allocated €125 million of humanitarian aid for Palestinians for 2024. The Commission is contracting the first €16 million today.
As set out on 29 January, the Commission has assessed its funding decision for UNRWA in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January that implicate several UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks. It took account of the action taken by the UN and the commitments the Commission required from UNRWA.
The Commission welcomes the UN’s Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation to shed light into the serious allegations against UNRWA staff. Furthermore, it commends the UN for creating an independent Review Group led by Catherine Colonna to assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations of serious breaches.
Following exchanges with the Commission, UNRWA has also indicated that it stands ready to ensure that a review of its staff is carried out to confirm they did not participate in the attacks and that further controls are put in place to mitigate such risks in the future.
UNRWA has agreed to the launch of an audit of the Agency to be conducted by EU appointed external experts. This audit will review the control systems to prevent the possible involvement of its staff and assets in terrorist activities.
Finally, UNRWA agrees to the strengthening of its department of internal investigations and the governance surrounding it.
UNRWA and the Commission have today confirmed their understanding on these points. On this basis, and following the exchange of letters with UNRWA confirming its commitments, the Commission will proceed disburse a first tranche of €50 million out of the €82 million foreseen for UNRWA for 2024.
The second and third tranches of €16 million will be released in line with the implementation of this agreement.
Beyond its support to UNRWA, the Commission remains fully committed to addressing the humanitarian plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza but also more widely in the region. For this purpose, it will allocate an additional €68 million for in 2024.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “We stand by the Palestinian people in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. Innocent Palestinians should not have to pay the price for the crimes of terrorist group Hamas. They face terrible conditions putting their lives at risk because of lack of access to sufficient food and other basic needs. That is why we are reinforcing our support to them this year by a further €68 million.”
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza requires urgent mobilization of donors. Today, the Commission is contracting the first €16 million from its humanitarian aid budget for food, medical and non-food items, shelter, as well as education and psycho-social support to civilians in Gaza. It is essential to also ensure the safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid and workers into and throughout Gaza. Thousands of lives are at stake.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “With today’s decision, the Commission is diversifying its assistance for the innocent Palestinian people in Gaza. At the same time, the commitment of UNRWA to introduce robust measures to prevent possible misconduct and minimize risk of allegations is welcome. It is now essential that UNRWA delivers on the agreed measures and conditions for our continued assistance, in particular the screening of the Agency’s staff in relation to the 7 October terrorist attacks, the vetting of its staff before recruitment and on a continuous basis with additional safeguards put in place, the audit of the Agency’s control systems by EU appointed external experts regarding its staff and assets, and the strengthening of its department of internal investigations, including through the creation of a new neutrality investigation unit.”
Background
In line with sound financial management principles, the agreement with UNWRA foresees the possibility for the Commission to suspend or recover payments should credible information indicating significant deficiencies in the functioning of the internal control system come to light.
