- 13:25UN Chief Highlights Morocco's Sahara Initiative for Sahel Economic Integration
- 13:15Kamala Harris Targets Disenchanted Republicans in Key Battleground States Ahead of Election
- 13:00Morocco Bolsters Maritime Influence with IMO Council Vice-Presidency
- 12:45King Charles III's Australian Visit: A Royal Encounter Amidst Growing Republican Sentiments
- 12:25Moroccan Buyers Surge to Second Place in Spanish Property Market
- 12:05Kamala Harris Highlights Trump's Campaign Fatigue in New Attack Ad
- 11:40Stellantis Shifts Gears: Morocco's Automotive Boom Raises Questions for European Manufacturing
- 11:25Elon Musk Increases Financial Incentive for Petition Supporting Constitutional Rights
- 11:15Morocco's Human Rights Council Pushes for Enhanced Protections in Strike Legislation
Follow us on Facebook
Norway Amplifies UNRWA Funding by 36%, Raises Alarms Over Palestinian Authority's Financial Crisis
In a significant move to bolster support for Palestinian refugees, Norway has announced a substantial increase in its financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This decision comes amid growing concerns about the dire financial straits faced by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Norway’s Minister of International Development, confirmed the country’s commitment to raising its current budget for UNRWA from 275 million kroner ($25 million) by an additional 100 million kroner ($9 million), marking a 36% increase.
“We believe it is crucial to enhance our support to UNRWA at this critical time,” Tvinnereim stated. “The agency plays an essential role in providing services and aid to millions of Palestinian refugees.”
The announcement underscores Norway's dedication to addressing the humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees while highlighting the urgent financial challenges confronting the PA.
In a separate but related development, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has voiced serious concerns regarding the PA's precarious financial condition. Eide indicated that the PA might face imminent collapse due to a confluence of funding shortfalls, escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, and employment restrictions affecting half a million Palestinians who are barred from working in Israel.
“The Palestinian Authority, with whom we work closely, are warning us that they might be collapsing this summer,” Barth Eide told Reuters.
These warnings come amid increasing international pressure on Israel to cease its ongoing military actions in Gaza. Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israel's offensive has resulted in over 37,300 Palestinian deaths and 85,300 injuries, according to reports.
The conflict has also sparked a wave of international recognition for Palestinian statehood. Since the start of the war, several Western countries have acknowledged Palestine as a sovereign state, thereby reinforcing the push for a two-state solution, a resolution long resisted by Israel.
Countries newly recognizing Palestinian statehood include Spain, Ireland, Norway, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados.
Norway's increased funding to UNRWA and its candid warnings about the financial instability of the PA reflect a broader international concern about the humanitarian and political situation in the region. As the crisis deepens, the global community's response will be crucial in shaping the future of Palestinian statehood and stability in the Middle East.