Canada Lifts Freeze on UNRWA Funding After Criticism
Canada has announced that it will be resuming funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) after facing backlash for cutting assistance during Israel’s war in Gaza. The decision to cut funding in late January had drawn immediate concern from rights advocates and humanitarian groups, who warned of dire repercussions for Palestinians in Gaza.
The freeze on funding came after Israel accused UNRWA employees of taking part in a Hamas attack, although no concrete evidence was provided to support the allegations. The decision to resume funding was welcomed by Canadian human rights advocates, who criticized the initial freeze as a reckless political decision that jeopardized the lives of millions of people in Gaza.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government had faced pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups and members of his own party to maintain the freeze on funding. However, experts and humanitarian groups have emphasized UNRWA’s crucial role in providing much-needed assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
The decision to lift the freeze on funding comes as the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with ongoing Israeli military attacks leading to a lack of food and water and the deaths of Palestinian children. Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen acknowledged the critical role that UNRWA plays in providing support to Palestinians in Gaza and the broader region.
The resumption of funding to UNRWA has been welcomed as a life-saving decision that will help alleviate the catastrophic conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza. The move has been praised as a recognition of the urgent need for support and the essential role that UNRWA plays in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need.
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