EU announces $267M funding for UN Palestine refugee agency

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union announced on Tuesday €261 million ($267 million) of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The EU Commission said in a statement that it has adopted a three-year contribution amounting to €261 million “to secure predictable financial resources to the Agency for the provision of essential services to Palestine refugees.”

The already agreed €246 million in funding has been topped up by another €15 million to mitigate the impact of food insecurity exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the announcement explained.

“Our support to UNRWA is a key element in our strategy of contributing to the promotion of security, stability and development in the region, which also helps to keep alive the prospects of sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell commented on the decision.

Including the direct support for the Palestine Authority and the funding to the UNRWA, the EU plans to provide a total of €1.152 billion in financial aid for Palestinians between 2021-24.