Japan is gearing up to resume financial assistance to the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees, as the besieged Gaza Strip struggles with a severe humanitarian crisis marked by widespread famine and children succumbing to starvation.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa held talks with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in Tokyo to address the agency’s efforts in enhancing governance and transparency, such as tracking funds and maintaining staff neutrality.
“Japan and the UNRWA confirmed that they will advance final coordination about necessary efforts to resume Japan’s contribution,” Japan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Tokyo, once ranked as the sixth-largest contributor to the agency, had previously suspended its financial support of $32 million after the Israeli regime claimed that 12 out of the 13,000 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza were associated with the surprise operation of Al-Aqsa Storm.
In response to these allegations, 15 countries, including the European Union and the United States, also decided to halt their funding to the agency.
The UN, which is currently conducting a thorough examination of the claims, has stated that Israel has failed to present any evidence to back up the claims.
Tokyo is set to unveil its final decision on the resumption of operations in the first half of April.
Kamikawa appreciated UNRWA’s action plan and the two sides “confirmed that they will advance final coordination about necessary efforts to resume Japan’s contribution”, the ministry said.
Lazzarini told Switzerland’s Keystone-ATS news agency on Tuesday that the agency has successfully secured funding until the end of May.
This comes as a relief after UNRWA previously issued a warning that its operations could come to a halt as early as March due to a lack of financial support.
In Gaza, UNRWA is the primary UN agency delivering healthcare, and essential humanitarian support to the Palestinians trapped in in the besieged enclave.
Lazzarini said he was “cautiously optimistic” that the donors would start funding the agency again within weeks.
Canada and Sweden have renewed their support for UNRWA, while the European Commission has responded to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip with a 50 million euro funding.
Israel unleashed its war on Gaza on October 7 after the Hamas resistance movement carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.
Last week the UN Security Council adopted a long-awaited resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
