It is sixty years since UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, was launched. To mark the occasion, a ministerial level event, attended by the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, was held in New York to draw attention to the plight of Palestinian refugees. Minister for Development Cooperation Bert Koenders was among the participants.

‘It is in fact tragic that UNRWA is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary. As we discussed with President Abbas this morning, it is incredibly urgent that a solution should finally be found. UNRWA is essential to the survival of the Palestinians. That is why I am here. But let’s hope we won’t be celebrating its 65th anniversary. That would be an even greater tragedy,’ Mr Koenders said in New York.

The Netherlands is a major donor to UNRWA, contributing 15 million euros a year. The situation in Gaza in particular is precarious, because of the economic blockade. Humanitarian relief goods can only be brought in in limited quantities, and little progress has been made with reconstruction.

One and a half million people in Gaza depend on emergency aid. ‘Ninety percent of Gaza’s population still depend on UNRWA and food aid. It is totally unacceptable that the borders remain closed to relief goods,’ said Mr Koenders.



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