Public Opinion Divided on Swedish UNRWA Funding
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Public Opinion Divided on Swedish UNRWA Funding
- A recent poll indicates that nearly half of Swedish voters believe the country should resume its financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
- Sweden's government, on December 20, 2024, announced its decision to cease core funding for UNRWA in 2025, a move criticized by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
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Public opinion in Sweden appears split regarding the government’s decision to halt core funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). A recent Demoskop poll suggests that almost half of Swedish voters believe the country should reinstate its support for the agency. This division is also evident among voters of the Tidö parties, which form the current government coalition.
The Swedish government announced on December 20, 2024, that it would stop its core funding to UNRWA for 2025. This decision came despite Sweden being a long-standing and significant donor to UNRWA. In 2024, Sweden’s support to UNRWA totaled 451 million Swedish Kronor (approximately $40.89 million USD).
The government’s stated reasons for halting funding included concerns about UNRWA’s neutrality, allegations of its employees’ involvement with terrorist organizations, and the agency’s textbooks. Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa also cited the uncertain status of UNRWA following Israeli legislation to curtail the agency’s activities. Despite cutting funding to UNRWA, Sweden announced it would nearly double its overall humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2025, increasing it to 800 million kronor ($72 million USD), to be channeled through other organizations like the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the Red Cross.
UNRWA, established in 1949, provides essential services such as education, healthcare, and emergency relief to Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The agency has faced significant controversy, particularly after Israel alleged in January 2024 that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks. This led several countries, including the United States, to suspend funding, though UNRWA immediately fired the accused employees and launched