Sida’s boss: We work completely in line with government policy
The humanitarian ward on page want to give SEK 30 million in emergency to Gaza within a couple of weeks. The department has made a comprehensive report on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the opportunity to operate in Gaza and on the West Bank.
In the 14 -page report, the officials conclude that UNRWA is the organization with the best resources and opportunities to operate in the region. Through UNRWA, the help reaches the most effective, according to Sida’s report.
But since December, the Swedish government has cut ties with UNRWA, citing that Israel has banned it. Together with the United States, we are the only former aid donors who have completely interrupted the support to UNRWA.
Despite the employees’ solid report and analysis of what kind of help is best in Gaza, Sida’s management has chosen another decision. There will be no money for the emergency assistant apple that UNRWA has come out with.
Why can’t Sida make decisions within your area of responsibility?
– Because we work completely in line with the government’s overall foreign and aid policy and it is the one who governs this authority. Our overall assessment is that it is not in line with the overall foreign and aid policy, says Jakob Granit.
The documentation states that UNRWA is the player that may seem most effective in Gaza right now. Why do you still make this decision?
– In our assessment of the humanitarian operational environment in Palestine and Gaza, it says exactly as you say. The question is how effective it is forward. And that is the challenge here because of Israel’s legislation.
– – We have made an overall assessment that, for the time being, we will not support UNRWA’s operations with additional financing. And it is based on the authority’s interpretation of the government’s authority instruction and the government’s decision to terminate the Swedish core support to the UN body.
Sida’s humanitarian department concludes that UNRWA can provide help most effectively, why does it still become a political issue?
– SIDA is a management authority that works on the government’s assignment under laws and regulations that all Swedish administrative authorities make. We contribute with all kinds of financing and it is always in line with one of the government’s 46 strategies.
It may appear that you fail your own experts’ statements?
– It has nothing to do with it without an authority of this size makes continuous preparations. There are an incredible number of investigations and then it lands in an overall assessment where several aspects are weighed. There are certainly experts with us who have an opinion and another who have a different opinion and then we weigh these together into an overall assessment.
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Aid broadcasts for Gaza have started to roll in, but do not reach the needy. Many children risk starving to death.
So you have experts at the authority who do not think Unwra is the most effective in Gaza?
– I’ve never said that. I say that we make an incredible number of expert assessments all the time about a lot of questions.
How do you justify that Swedish tax money is not used on it – According to your officials – Most effective way so that as many starving as possible get help?
– – We have made an overall assessment and I cannot report it better than that.
Are you afraid to be fired if Sida pays humanitarian assistance to UNRWA?
– – You have to ask the government, I have no comments on that.
Read more:
Sida wishes to provide emergency assistance to Unrwa – binding by government
