The Scottish government has confirmed that it currently has no plans to provide further funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The announcement comes after allegations were made suggesting that some of the UN agency’s staff were involved in attacks by Hamas. Last year, the Scottish government donated a total of £750,000 to support UNRWA’s appeal for Gaza. A number of countries have already suspended new funding to the agency, which provides humanitarian aid to more than two million people in the region.
Israel has claimed that some UNRWA employees were involved in attacks by Hamas on 7 October. UNRWA has launched a full investigation into the allegations and has stated that anyone involved in acts of terrorism will be held accountable. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, has said that the allegations are particularly concerning given the need for the international community to maintain levels of life-saving aid for Gaza. The UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Italy have all suspended donations to UNRWA, although the Irish government has announced that it will continue funding.
Though the Scottish government has made a clear announcement that there are no further plans to fund UNRWA at this stage, First Minister Humza Yousaf has been keen to clarify that this is not a suspension of Scottish government funding, but rather a reflection of financial pressures. Tweeting on the matter, Yousaf explained that the Scottish government has previously provided aid within its financial constraints, and will continue to increase aid where possible and encourage others to support the people of Gaza.
Created in 1949, UNRWA is the biggest UN agency operating in Gaza, employing 13,000 people and providing health care, education and humanitarian aid to those in need. The agency has faced accusations of links to Hamas in the past, although UNRWA has denied that any such ties exist
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