Finland and Iceland have suspended their contributions to UNRWA following allegations that a dozen staff members had participated in the terrorist attack on Israel 7 October.
Finland on Saturday decided to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following allegations of the involvement of its 12 employees in the attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7 last year.
“We must make sure that not a single euro of Finland’s money goes to Hamas or other terrorists,” Tavio said in the press release.
Iceland also „froze“ its contributions to UNRWA. The Icelandic Foreign Minister, Bjarni Benediktsson, called for a thorough investigations and said contributions would be frozen until consultations, with the other Nordic countries.
Denmark, Norway and Sweden have not, so far, joined donor countries such as the USA, UK, France, Germany and Italy in such actions.
UNRWA is the UN humanitarian agency that provides basic public services, including education, healthcare and social services, to Palestinian refugees.
It has a staff of 28,000 Palestinians.
© UNRWA/Mohammed Hinnawi A collapsed building in a street in Gaza.
Guterres appeals for reconsideration
Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed to the countries that suspended funding to the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to reconsider their decisions, to ensure continuity of its vital humanitarian operations.
Philippe Lazzarini the UNRWA Commissioner General, says it is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, and points out that UNRWA took immediate action by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation.
“It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region,“ Lazzarini said in a statement.
