Swiss fund Palestinian refugee agency but with reservations
UNRWA aims to give Palestinian refugees access to education, healthcare and social services.
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The Swiss government has decided to continue its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). It has earmarked CHF20 million ($22 million) for its annual contribution to help humanitarian projects in the Middle East.
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However, the government limited the support to two years, instead of four years as before, to monitor management reforms by UNRWA.
“Switzerland supports the structural reform processes and management reforms initiated by UNRWA in 2019 to ensure its ability to fulfil its mandate and make efficient use of the funds it receives,” the government said on WednesdayExternal link.
The agency provides Palestinian refugees with access to education, healthcare and social services, but it has come in for criticism from donor nations in recent years.
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The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
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Questions raised over UNRWA after Swiss-Israeli meeting
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Israeli media: Swiss Foreign Minister Cassis and his Israeli counterpart discussed working together on alternative to UNWRA.
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The Swiss government has reduced by CH30 million ($30.2 million) its financial contribution to UN agencies over the next three years.
Switzerland ‘extremely worried’ by US aid cuts to Palestinians
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The Swiss foreign ministry says it is preoccupied by the US aid cut to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
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