Germany releases $97 million for UN Palestinian refugee agency

BERLIN -– The German government says it is releasing 91 million euros ($97 million) for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees following a review that it launched after Hamas attacked Israel.

Germany on Oct. 8 suspended development aid for the Palestinian areas pending a review, though it has kept up humanitarian aid.

The Development Ministry says it hasn’t yet completed the review, but focused initially on UN agency UNRWA. It says that “as a first partial result” it has decided to release 71 million euros already earmarked for UNRWA and to add 20 million euros in new funding.

It says that funding, announced by Development Minister Svenja Schulze after a meeting in Jordan with the head of UNRWA, will be used to help continue providing basic services -– particularly drinking water — to displaced people in the Gaza Strip and help Palestinian refugees in Jordan.