Abu Holi welcomes Belgian funding for UNRWA and calls on donors to sign multi-year funding agreements for UNRWA

Ramallah - Ma'an - Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, Dr. Ahmed Abu Houli Belgium has disbursed its financial contributions to support UNRWA's budget for the year 2024, and signed a new multi-year financing agreement with a total value of 27.5 million euros over the next three years 2024-2026, which includes 13.5 million euros in its financial contributions to UNRWA for the current year, and 7 million euros for each remaining year. Abu Holi stressed in his statement that Belgium, over the course of six decades, has been and continues to be a major political and financial contributor and supporter to UNRWA, pointing out that the Belgian government refused to suspend its funding in the face of Israeli accusations against UNRWA, and stressed the continuation of UNRWA's mandate in its areas of operations in accordance with the mandate granted to it by the association. General Assembly of the United Nations, and support its humani tarian work in the Gaza Strip, which it described as saving the lives of millions of innocent Palestinian civilians displaced from their homes. He pointed out that the flexible/unallocated Belgian funding will allow UNRWA to disburse funds according to priorities and needs in its five areas of operations, especially in the Gaza Strip, and on its basic and emergency programmes, stressing that it will contribute at the same time to bridging the funding gap and continuing its educational, health and relief services for Palestinian refugees, which include them. These services are their lifeline and their only source of income. Abu Holi urged donor countries to provide additional funding and sign multi-year funding agreements with UNRWA, which will help UNRWA stabilize, sustain and predict its funding. He also called on donor countries that are still suspending their funding to take a step forward towards resuming it. He stressed the continuation of UNRWA's work in its five areas of operations until a political solution to the Palestinian refugee issue is found in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 194, warning of the danger of Israeli efforts to end its role and transfer its powers to international organizations and host governments to stabilize the region. Source: Maan News Agency