Brussels: The European Commission has announced a significant financial allocation to bolster support for the Palestinian people, with a total of £202 million directed to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Authority. This funding forms a part of the Comprehensive and Multiannual Programme for Palestine's Recovery and Resilience.
According to European Union, £150 million of the allocated funds will be used to support the Palestinian Authority. This financial support aims to ensure the delivery of key public services, including the payment of salaries for teachers, civil servants, and healthcare workers. This assistance is contingent upon the implementation of the Palestinian Authority's reform agenda. UNRWA has also received a substantial contribution of £52 million to aid in the delivery of essential services such as education, primary healthcare, and relief assistance to Palestinian refugees situated in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and in host countries like Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, emphasized the EU's commitment to the Palestinian people, stating that the disbursement underscores the EU's political and financial dedication. This financial package is part of a broader EU assistance plan, highlighting UNRWA's critical role as both a humanitarian and development entity. The EU expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the worsening conditions in the West Bank, reiterating its commitment to a just and lasting peace based on a negotiated Two-State solution.