Sweden to Resume Funding for UNRWA

Sweden has declared its intention to resume its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), following assurances of additional investigations into the agency's expenditure and staffing practices.

In an official statement, the Swedish government revealed its allocation of 400 million krona to UNRWA for the year 2024, with an initial installment of 200 million krona being released as part of today's decision.

To facilitate the release of this aid package, UNRWA has agreed to permit independent audits and controls to enhance internal oversight and implement additional checks on its personnel.

Sweden, like several other countries, had previously suspended its assistance to UNRWA after Israel accused 12 of the agency's employees in late January of involvement in an attack on October 7th.

UNRWA promptly terminated the contracts of the accused employees and initiated an internal investigation. Furthermore, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed an independent group led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to assess UNRWA and its political neutrality.

The Swedish announcement follows the European Commission's early March declaration of a 50 million euro support package for UNRWA, with an additional 32 million euros pending release.

The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also announced its decision to resume funding to UNRWA, which had been halted since the end of January.

UNRWA employs about 30,000 individuals across the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, including about 13,000 in the Gaza Strip.