Projects examined on a “priority” basis
Germany releases aid for Palestine again
November 7, 2023, 12:26 p.m
With Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, the federal government is freezing financial aid for projects in Palestinian areas. An intensive review was announced, but due to the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza it was only carried out as a priority.
Germany is resuming its development cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). Development Minister Svenja Schulze announced this during a conversation with UNWRA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini in the Jordanian capital Amman. The federal government temporarily stopped funding for development projects that benefit displaced people in the Palestinian territories and Palestinian refugees in neighboring countries after the Hamas attack a month ago.
Despite strict criteria already in place, a thorough review of all projects was announced. Specifically, according to the information, the aim was to ensure that neither the spread of anti-Semitic thought patterns nor supporters of Hamas were promoted. In view of the growing need of the people in the Gaza Strip and the increasingly unstable situation in some neighboring countries, further support for UNRWA was considered as a priority, it said. According to the ministry, the first partial result is to release planned commitments of 71 million euros for UNRWA and, in view of the increased needs, an additional 20 million euros to be made available.
The focus of UNRWA’s commitment in the southern Gaza Strip, which is financed with German development funds, is the permanent supply of drinking water to the civilian population, as well as hygiene and sanitation facilities in emergency shelters for people displaced within the Gaza Strip. “We see the great suffering of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and want to alleviate it,” said Schulze. The brutal attack by Hamas against Israel also harmed them. UNWRA needs continued support if there is to be a peaceful future for Israel and the Palestinian territories. This is also in Israel’s security interests.
The Foreign Office, which deals with short-term humanitarian aid, announced on October 20 that Germany would increase its humanitarian aid for the people in the Palestinian territories by 50 million euros.
Lazzarini visited a UNRWA-run school in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, last week. He then said: “The scale of the tragedy is unprecedented.” Palestinian children asked him for a drink of water and a piece of bread.