RAMALLAH, Saturday, March 9, 2024 (WAFA) - Sweden and Canada have announced they will resume funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, more than a month after suspending it in line with about 15 other countries.

Sweden has said it was resuming aid, with an initial disbursement of $20 million, after receiving assurances of extra checks on its spending and personnel.

"The government has allocated 400 million kronor to UNRWA for the year 2024. Today's decision concerns a first payment of 200 million kronor," the Swedish government said in a statement.

It said that to unblock the aid, UNRWA had agreed to "allow controls, independent audits, to strengthen internal supervision and extra controls of personnel."

Meanwhile, Canada's Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen told reporters that "Canada's funding for UNRWA will resume".

"We're resuming funding to UNRWA because of the dire humanitarian situation on the ground," he explained, noting that Canada was the first G7 nation to resume funding.

About 15 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, suspended funding to UNRWA at the end of January.

The moves slashed the agency's funds by €411 million, more than half of the funds it had received in 2023.

Canada has reviewed the investigation's interim report and "were reassured by the contents," Mr Hussen said.

He also announced that Ottawa will partner with Jordan and the World Food Programme to conduct airdrops in Gaza to deliver desperately needed food and other essentials.

"We're looking at a serious risk of mass starvation in parts of Gaza, particularly in the north," he warned.

Y.S