For 2015, the Government of Flanders has once again reserved 150,000 EUR for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). This organisation dedicates itself to helping about 5 million Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. It develops hospitals, schools, youth centres, housing, microfinancing, etc.
Since 2009, the Government of Flanders structurally contributes to the resources of this UN organisation. Such core funding allows for the resources to be used for general activities, and is thus not earmarked for specific projects. In that way, UNRWA can respond to the most acute needs in the region.
Through the subsidy, Flanders aims to support the efforts of the international community to ease the fate of the Palestinian refugees, who have been the victims of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East for over half a century today. The Government of Flanders is of the opinion that the Palestinians are entitled to their own state through a negotiated two-state solution.
In that way, the Government of Flanders also implements the Flemish Parliament resolution of 7 January 2009 regarding the Gaza-Israel conflict. In this resolution, it is asked that the Government of Flanders join the initiatives of the European Union. The EU is the second largest donor to UNRWA.
