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The agency said a total of US$450 million in funding was at risk and warned its operations across the Middle East would be “severely compromised” from March.
The European Commission is one of the biggest donors to UNRWA and the agency’s boss, Philippe Lazzarini, said last month that the €82 million payment from Brussels due around the end of February was “absolutely critical”.
That sum from the EU executive is an “operational grant” meant to cover UNWRA operations including staff salaries this year, officials said.
AID TO PALESTINIANS
In its statement, the Commission said it would allocate an additional €68 million “to support the Palestinian population across the region to be implemented through international partners like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent”.
“We stand by the Palestinian people in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. Innocent Palestinians should not have to pay the price for the crimes of terrorist group Hamas,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“They face terrible conditions putting their lives at risk because of lack of access to sufficient food and other basic needs. That is why we are reinforcing our support to them this year by a further €68 million.”
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