Japan Resumes Funding to UNRWA

Japan announced on Tuesday that it will resume its funding to the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) after the agency's efforts to regain trust following allegations of involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel.

Speaking to the media, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said that Japan will lift the moratorium on its financial contributions to UNRWA and provide assistance while ensuring and confirming the appropriateness of Japan’s funds, adding that about $35 million of originally planned funding was ready to be released.

He also praised UNRWA's efforts in addressing the Gaza crisis while acknowledging their ongoing work to improve governance and manage risks.

The country, which is the sixth-largest donor to the agency, along with 15 other countries, had suspended around $450 million in funding after Israel made the allegations in January.

This move had created chaos in the agency's operations in the Gaza Strip. However, many countries, including Australia and Canada, have since re-established funding to the UNRWA, which is the most significant relief body in Gaza, a region under siege since the attack.