OSLO – Norway, a top donor to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), is urging countries that have cut funding to the agency to consider the consequences of their actions on the population in Gaza, its foreign minister told Reuters.
The Nordic country on Sunday said it would maintain its funding to UNRWA following accusations that some agency staff took part in the October 7 attack by Hamas fighters, in contrast to several other countries that have paused payments.
“We are discussing the question of funding with other donors and will continue to do so in the coming days and weeks,” said Espen Barth Eide, adding Oslo was standing by its “strong commitment to the agency, and to the Palestinian people”.
“UNWRA is a vital lifeline for 1.5 million refugees in Gaza. Now more than ever, the agency needs international support,” said the minister. “To avoid collectively punishing millions of people, we need to distinguish between what individuals may have done and what UNRWA stands for.”
EU aiming to launch Red Sea naval mission by mid-Feb
EU member states want to launch a Red Sea naval mission by mid-February to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia and could decide its command structure on Wednesday, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said, Reuters reports.
“Not all member states will be willing to participate but no one will obstruct … I hope that on the 17th of this month (February) the mission can be launched,” Borrell told reporters ahead of a European Union defence ministers meeting.
He said the aim was to pick a lead nation, and outline where the mission would be headquartered, who would participate and with what assets.
France, Greece and Italy have shown interest in leading the mission, with seven countries so far indicating they would be willing to send naval assets, diplomats said, adding that it would be based off existing EU missions in the region.
