Dutch cabinet agrees to extra 380 million euros for development aid

The Dutch cabinet has reached an agreement to release an additional 380 million euros for development cooperation this year, a move that appears to save the budget from potential failure. This financial boost is the result of negotiations between the ruling coalition and the Progressief Nederland (PN) party.

A key aspect of the deal is the continued support for the UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. PN Member of Parliament Suzanne Kröger announced the agreement, emphasizing the importance of directing more funds to people in need, particularly in Sudan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. "Because there is so much need in the world now, it is clear that we must do something now," Kröger stated.

The additional funding is primarily a one-time allocation, with some of the money being brought forward from future years. Details on the exact source of these funds are expected to be provided later by the minister. The budget had become a significant challenge for Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, and PN's support is seen as crucial for its passage in the Senate.

This agreement follows a contentious debate over UNRWA funding. While the budget was initially passed in the House of Representatives with right-wing support, an amendment to reverse budget cuts for UNRWA failed. Minister Sjoerdsma later announced 19 million euros in support for UNRWA, drawing criticism from right-wing parties who cite Israeli accusations of ties between the agency and Hamas. Nine UNRWA employees were dismissed following an investigation into alleged involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.