Australia restores millions in funding to UNRWA [Video]

Australia has restored $6 million in funding to the United Nations’ peak humanitarian aid body for Palestinians after it was paused in January over allegations some of the agency’s staff were involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel last year.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced today that the funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will be reinstated following advice from security agencies and measures from the aid body to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.

“The best available current advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation, and that existing and additional safeguards sufficiently protect Australian taxpayer funding,” she said.

“Australia has been working with a group of donor countries and with UNRWA on the shared objective of ensuring the integrity of UNRWA’s operations, rebuilding confidence, and ensuring …