Germany to increase funding for Palestinians

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Germany will significantly increase its funding for the UN program for Palestinian refugees, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Maria Adebahr said Germany will increase its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), after the U.S. administration moved to cancel funds for the program.

“I can confirm you that Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has written a letter to his European counterparts on the issue,” Adebahr said, adding that Germany was expecting from its EU partners to increase their contribution to the UNWRA.

“As Germany, this year, we have already provided €81 million ($94 million) in aid for the UNWRA, and at the moment we are working for allocating a substantial amount of additional aid,” she said.

Adebahr recalled that the U.S. withdrawal from the UNWRA would result in a $217 million deficit this year, and it would not be possible for Germany to meet this alone.

“Minister Maas would appreciate if his European colleagues would also look for ways to support UNWRA, and to examine whether it would be possible to increase their financial assistance,” she said.

Adebahr also noted that Maas would have talks with his counterparts on this issue ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting next month.