Trudeau non-committal about restoring funding to Palestinian relief agency UNRWA
CBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday his government isn't ready to announce it's restoring federal funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the UN agency that has been delivering aid to the people of Gaza.
"We're not making any announcements today but we will continue to make sure Canada does the right thing in this situation and puts the protection of civilian life at the forefront," Trudeau said at a media event in Toronto about his government's pharmacare plan.
Trudeau said the federal government has ministers on the ground in the Middle East "engaging with partners" on "all the things Canada can and should do."
"The ongoing humanitarian crisis and disaster in Gaza is heart-wrenching for everyone. We know how important it is to get aid into Gaza, to help the families, the innocents, the civilians, the people who have been devastated by the past few months."
Trudeau's government and a number of other major donors cut off any additional funding for the agency in January after Israel alleged that some of UNRWA's staff were somehow involved in the Oct. 7 attack that left more than a thousand Israelis dead, injured or captured as hostages.
After the release of an Israeli report about alleged UNRWA staff involvement in that deadly day, the agency fired 10 staff members. Two others were later confirmed dead, UNRWA said.
UN investigators are reviewing the Israeli accusations and are expected to deliver a public report on their findings.
CBC News reported Tuesday that the government is prepared to resume funding UNRWA — including a $25 million payment in April and future funding.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen had been scheduled to make an announcement Wednesday but later cancelled his appearance.
A source told CBC News that the UNRWA funding announcement is still coming soon.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with reports of widespread famine.
The Hamas-run Gaza health authority has said at least 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Many people have been displaced and thousands are said to be injured or missing as a result of the war.
U.S. armed forces have been airdropping aid into Gaza to offer some relief. There is also talk of getting more aid into Gaza through the sea.
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