The Diplomat in Spain

The Diplomat

The Council of Ministers yesterday authorized a series of voluntary contributions to international organizations, programs and funds and other international entities, for a global amount of 233,250,000 euros.

Among the authorized contributions is one of 20 million euros destined for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which had been announced on March 7 by the Government, shortly after the United States and 15 others countries, decided to suspend their aid to the organization after accusations that a dozen of its employees were involved in the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The Spanish Government expressed its confidence in UNRWA and the work they carry out in Gaza at a time when the population of the Strip is in very difficult conditions due to the attacks by the Israeli Army. For this reason, it announced that it would add to a contribution of 3.5 million euros agreed weeks ago, another extraordinary contribution of 20 million euros.

Among the multi-annual contributions authorized yesterday by the Council of Ministers are others, 9,350,000 euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); 6,600,000 euros for Unicef; 5,350,000 euros for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); and 5,600,000 euros for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In addition, the Executive approved granting 85 million euros to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (FM); 26 million to the World Food Programme; 20 million to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE); and another 20 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as well as 12 million to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).

Smaller amounts will go to Unitaid (6 million euros), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (2,570,000 euros); the Organization of American States (2 million) or the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with 1,250,000 euros.

For its part, the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) will receive 930,000 euros; and the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS), 600,000 euros.