Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko met with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, on Thursday and spoke about Japan renewing contributions to the Agency.

Japan halted contributions after allegations that UNRWA staff members had helped Hamas in their attack on Israel in October. Kamikawa spoke about the need for UNRWA to strengthen its due diligence.

Lazzarini outlined UNRWA’s reform plans and said that to ensure the transparency and traceability of projects that Japan implements through UNRWA, it will establish a new framework for project management and monitoring with Japan, and Japanese UNRWA staff will also be encouraged to play an active role within this framework. In addition, the implementation status of UNRWA’s reform efforts will be regularly reviewed and reported to donors, including Japan.

Kamikawa praised UNRWA’s action plan and additional efforts, which, she said, are in line with Japan’s priorities. Based on these considerations, both sides agreed to make final adjustments for Japan to resume contributions.

Kamikawa noted that contributions to UNRWA come from the taxes of the Japanese people and that Japan’s support is needed to strengthen UNRWA’s governance. She emphasized the importance of effective measures be taken to ensure that it is not used for any terrorist activities. 

In addition to strengthening the organization’s due diligence, Kamikawa said Japan would like to see UNRWA strengthening collaboration with other international organizations, ensuring neutrality in education and encouraging women to enter the leadership ranks. She stated that she places emphasis on incorporating women’s perspectives through participation. 

Kamikawa paid her respects to the many dedicated UNRWA staff members engaged in humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and expressed her condolences to staff members who have lost their lives. 

Director-General Lazzarini expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support to date and stated that UNRWA’s efforts include strengthening UNRWA Headquarters’ grip in the field and improving the management skills of local staff working on the front lines.

He said UNRWA will also promote cooperation with international organizations, provide transparent information to donors, and enhance screening and education to ensure the neutrality of local staff. He added that the Agency will also place emphasis on women’s leadership in UNRWA’s governance reform and reconstruction work in Gaza.