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fullscreen Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Archive image. Photo: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP/TT
Japan is in the process of resuming its support for the UN’s crisis-stricken aid organization for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa – which coordinates almost all aid shipments to Gaza – the country’s government announced.
Japan was previously the sixth largest donor to the aid organization, but like several other countries chose to pause its support after Israeli allegations that 12 of Unrwa’s approximately 13,000 staff were involved in the bloody Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, which marked the start of the war in Gaza.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the steps taken by the UN agency to strengthen governance and transparency.
“Japan and UNRWA confirmed that they will carry out the final coordination necessary for Japan to resume its efforts,” the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement.
Several other countries that previously paused their support, including Sweden, Denmark and Finland – have already decided to resume their support.