Ottawa is resuming funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Canada’s Minister for International Development Ahmed Hussen has said in an announcement.

Hussen said the decision was taken in part so that more could be done to urgently respond to the dire needs of Palestinian civilians who are “at a serious risk of mass starvation in parts of Gaza”.

With Hussen’s announcement, it is the first country to resume funding for UNRWA which employs 13,000 people in Gaza to run schools, healthcare clinics and other social services, and to distribute humanitarian aid.

The minister said although the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report regarding the allegations against UNRWA employees wasn’t final yet, Canada has reviewed the investigation’s interim findings and is assured that the agency has taken measures to strengthen its processes.

“In recognition of the robust investigative processes underway, UNRWA’s efforts to address serious allegations made against some of its staff, including the implementation of internal measures to improve oversight and accountability, as well as the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, Canada is resuming its funding to UNRWA so more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians,” Hussen said.

“Canada will continue to take the allegations against some of UNRWA’s staff extremely seriously and we will remain closely engaged with UNRWA and the UN to pursue accountability and reforms.”

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