DUTCH RESPONSE TO UNRWA EMERGENCY APPEAL

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000469 SIPDIS PRM/ANE FOR R.WARD EUR/UBI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KPAL NL PREF UNRWA SUBJECT: DUTCH RESPONSE TO UNRWA EMERGENCY APPEAL REF: STATE 29074 ¶1. The Netherlands does not plan to contribute to the 2004 Emergency Appeal for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Ms. Marwiencke Tillema of the MFA's UN Directorate (Political and Judicial Division) said the Dutch decision is based on two factors. First, the Dutch want to see a broader base of donors to the UNRWA. The Dutch feel the agency should not rely on the support of traditional donors. She suggested that UNRWA approach new donors including those in the Middle East region. Tillema noted that the Nordic countries have also indicated they would like to see more donors. A second reason the Dutch will not contribute is their lack of extra funds. According to Joost Andriessen, Director of the MFA's Humanitarian Division, the Ministry has several multi-year commitments to UN agencies which they cannot easily cut and they are experiencing a squeeze in their overall bilateral and humanitarian aid funding due to a tight budget. ¶2. In 2004 the Dutch will give an unearmarked EUR 11.8 million to UNRWA's general budget. The MFA expects the money to be disbursed in late March. This is the same amount the Netherlands gave in 2003. SOBEL