UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday it had sufficient funds to run its operations until the end of May after many donors paused their funding over Israeli accusations that some staff took part in Hamas’ October 7 massacre, which triggered the war in Gaza.
Kuwait has handed its annual US dollar contribution of $2 million to UNRWA, Reuters reported on Thursday, based on the Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA. In addition, France has declared its intention to resume funding the agency under certain conditions.
France contributes to UNRWA funding
France intends to provide over 30 million euros ($32.41 million US dollars) to UNRWA this year to support its operations amid the ongoing war in Gaza, said the foreign ministry in Paris.
“We will make our contributions while ensuring that the conditions are met for UNRWA to fulfill its missions in a spirit devoid of incitement to hatred and violence,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told journalists.
He did not say when the next payment to the agency would be made. According to the usual quarterly schedule, the next tranche is due in April.
UNRWA provides aid and essential services to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and across the wider region.
