EU commits $121m for UN relief agency for Palestine refugees

The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, announced exceptional funds for the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), bringing its total contribution to 121 million U.S. dollars for 2019.

Joao Vale de Almeida, head of the EU delegation to the United Nations, announced an additional contribution of 21 million euros (23.7 million dollars) at a pledging conference at UN Headquarters in New York.

This year, the EU has already frontloaded its annual contribution of 82 million euros (92.8 million dollars), in addition to 4 million euros (4.5 million dollars) of humanitarian aid, said Vale de Almeida.

"This new contribution brings the European Commission's global contribution to 121 million U.S. dollars (107 million euros) for 2019."

"We on the EU side have done and will continue to do our utmost to reach out to existing and potentially new donors and fully support the renewal of UNRWA's mandate and the continuity of UNRWA's services."

The European Union remains a strong, reliable and predictable supporter of the agency and will strive to enable UNRWA to continue its operations until a just, fair, agreed and realistic solution to the final-status issue of Palestine refugees is reached, said the ambassador.

UNRWA is an essential provider of vital services to millions of Palestine refugees, and a stabilizing force in the region. In particular, the provision of health services for all refugees and education for many young Palestinians is important not only in Gaza and Syria, but also in Jordan, Lebanon and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, he said.

"The EU acknowledges, appreciates and supports the essential contribution made by UNRWA to the well-being, protection and human development of Palestine refugees."

UNRWA and its services continue to make a key political contribution to the viability of the two-state solution, which remains the only realistic way to achieve a just and lasting peace and which can ultimately only be reached through negotiations by the parties, he said.

Last year the EU stepped up its already substantial support to UNRWA. In total, it contributed an unprecedented 179 million dollars, making the EU the single largest contributor to UNRWA's operations, said the ambassador.

EU member states contribute separately to UNRWA, whose official name is the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The relief and human development aid body currently helps 5.4 million Palestine refugees and their descendants in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria as well as West Bank and Gaza.

The agency was confronted with its most severe funding crisis in 2018 after the United States, traditionally the largest donor, suddenly cut its funding before it completely stopped its support.