UNRWA Chief Expected to Visit Japan Next Week; Resumption of Japan’s Financial Contribution to U.N. Agency on Agenda

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:30 JST, March 22, 2024 

Arrangements are being made for Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to visit Japan next week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Thursday.

Lazzarini is expected to discuss the resumption of Japan’s financial contribution to the U.N. agency.

UNRWA has been under suspicion that its staff members were involved in a surprise attack on Israel by the Islamist group Hamas in October last year. In January, the Japanese government announced it was suspending its funding to the U.N. agency, calling for stronger governance.

Lazzarini is expected to explain to the Japanese government UNRWA’s efforts to strengthen governance, among other issues. An interim report has also been submitted by an independent U.N. investigation team.

Regarding the Japanese government’s response, Hayashi said Tokyo “wants to proceed with consideration swiftly.”