MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French
Federal Council
Bern, 27.09.2024 – At its meeting on 27 September 2024, the Federal Council decided to allocate CHF 13 million for the final tranche of the “Humanitarian Action” credit for the Middle East to national and international organisations active in the region. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) was tasked with consulting the foreign policy committees on this matter. It also informed the Federal Council of the implementation of the reduction in the “Humanitarian Action” credit decided by Parliament for 2024. The Federal Council continues to call for a diplomatic solution based on international humanitarian law and leading to de-escalation and peace in the Middle East.
As decided by Parliament in December 2023, the contributions for the Middle East from the “Humanitarian Actions” credit will be paid in instalments in 2024 and after consultation with the foreign policy committees of the Federal Chambers. For the third and final instalment in 2024, the Federal Council has decided to allocate around 13 million francs to organisations established in Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations organisations and international non-governmental organisations. The aim of these contributions is to provide relief to populations in need in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Syria, particularly in the areas of water, food, health, education, income and social cohesion. This final instalment is submitted to the foreign policy committees for consultation.
In total, contributions to humanitarian actions in the Middle East amount to around CHF 79 million in 2024. On 24 April 2024, the Federal Council set the amount allocated in the first tranche at around CHF 56 million. On 8 May 2024, it decided to grant CHF 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in response to the agency’s appeal for humanitarian aid. This contribution, intended solely to cover urgent vital needs in Gaza, was approved by the foreign policy committees. It will not be increased in the 2024 budget. On the one hand, this allows for a certain financial flexibility to be maintained until the end of the year, given the global humanitarian situation, which is also dependent on possible natural disasters. On the other hand, this decision takes into account the reduction of 10 million francs in the “Humanitarian Actions” credit decided by the Federal Chambers for 2024 and the ongoing parliamentary debates relating to UNRWA.
The Federal Council stresses that only dialogue, de-escalation and respect for international humanitarian law can lead to peace in the Middle East. For Gaza, it continues to call for a ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and unhindered humanitarian access. It reiterates that the two-state solution is the only one likely to lead to peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In view of the persistent violence in the border region between Israel and Lebanon and the resulting escalation, a diplomatic solution is essential so that the Lebanese and Israeli populations can live in peace and security.
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Federal Councilhttps://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil.html
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.