Former New Zealand PM urges Australia and west to reinstate UNRWA funding to avoid ‘catastrophic’ impact on Palestinians

Helen Clark's call comes as Albanese government minister says halt in donations to refugee agency by more than 10 countries should be as short as possible'

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The former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark has urged Australia and other western countries to reinstate funding to a key UN agency to avoid a very, very harsh, collective punishment of the Gazan people".

The call came as an Australian government minister, Anne Aly, said she hoped the pause in funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was as short as possible".

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