Financial delegation approves money for humanitarian aid in the Middle East
Published: Wednesday, Nov 8th 2023, 17:50
Updated At: Thursday, Nov 9th 2023, 00:54
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Switzerland should be able to quickly provide humanitarian aid in the Middle East. The Finance Delegation (FinDel) of the Federal Assembly has approved an urgent credit of CHF 86 million for this purpose.
On November 1, the Federal Council requested a total of CHF 90 million. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) intends to raise four million of this with its own contributions, as it writes on the Internet. The necessary supplementary credit therefore still amounts to CHF 86 million.
The Federal Council intends to use the money to increase funding for humanitarian aid in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and neighboring countries, according to a statement from the Parliamentary Services on Wednesday's decision by the FinDel. Based on the information available, the Council had recognized the urgency of the matter.
The money is intended for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, several UN organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as Médecins Sans Frontières, Terre des Hommes Switzerland and Médecins du Monde Switzerland. Parliament now has to decide.
Last week, the Federal Council wrote on the application that the humanitarian situation in this region was "extremely worrying". The situation in the Gaza Strip is "catastrophic". Switzerland supports organizations that offer protection and shelter to those affected by the war and provide them with food, said Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
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