GENEVA, (Switzerland) : Austria has decided to join a group of countries that suspended funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), its Foreign Ministry said yesterday (January 29).
The country joins the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Finland and Japan, which claimed that 12 staff members from UNRWA may have been involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, reported the Anadolu news agency.
The background to the suspension comes from Israeli accusations against the UN relief organisation.
"The allegations are deeply shocking and extremely worrying," said the ministry in a statement, adding: "We call on UNRWA and the UN (United Nations) to conduct a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations."
All contributions to UNRWA have been suspended "until all these allegations have been fully clarified and there is clarity about the consequences drawn from them," the Foreign Ministry added.
According to the press release, Austria is acting "in coordination with international partners."
The Foreign Ministry said previously that Austria's annual contribution to UNRWA amounts to around 400,000 euros (RM2.05 million). In addition, there is a contribution of 3 million euros (RM15 million) per year for a health project.
The ministry also said in the press release that Austria will continue to help the suffering civilian population in Gaza regardless of the decision on UNRWA.
"To alleviate the enormous humanitarian suffering, Austria has provided a total of 13 million euros (RM67 million) in humanitarian aid for the civilian population in Gaza and the region since October 7," it said. — Bernama
