Switzerland will ultimately pay 10 million francs to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The Federal Council made this decision on Wednesday after months of controversy. The Swiss contribution was initially expected to amount to 20 million.
This contribution is a response to the call for humanitarian aid launched by UNRWA and to an “emergency situation”, the government wrote in a press release on Wednesday.
The aid that Switzerland will pay to UNRWA is intended exclusively for Gaza to cover the organization’s most urgent needs, for the period from April to December 2024: food, water, accommodation, primary health care and logistics. .
About-face by donor countries
UNRWA has been in turmoil since Israel’s accusations targeting the agency and some of its employees, accused of direct support to Hamas during the bloody attacks of October 7.
Several donor countries suspended their contributions to UNRWA in January due to the accusations. Many of them have since resumed payments.
Initially, Switzerland was to pay 20 million francs for 2024. These funds had been suspended since last December, pending a decision from the Federal Council. The latter had to consult the foreign policy committees on this highly controversial issue, according to the wishes of Parliament.
>> See the explanations from 7:30 p.m.:
Colonna Report
The current decision takes into account the findings of the report of the independent review group led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, the government continues. This report aimed to examine the neutrality of UNRWA.
>> Read also: Audit judges UNRWA ‘indispensable’ and welcomes measures to ensure its neutrality
He notes that the organization has a strong monitoring system. However, it makes 50 recommendations to further strengthen the neutrality of the organization, particularly in the areas of communication, educational materials and the use of infrastructure.
Parliament’s foreign policy committees will have to decide on the Swiss contribution. Recently, that of the National Council had recommended to the Federal Council to release part of the 20 million planned. But she also demands that Switzerland no longer pay any money to UNRWA in the medium term.
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