Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD announced €20 million in support for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for its work providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and across the Middle East region today, Thursday, February 15.
This €20 million will support UNRWA’s life-saving work in Gaza and help address UNRWA’s critical funding crisis, which jeopardizes support to 5.9 million Palestinians across the region, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.
Tánaiste @MichealMartinTD today announced €20M in support of @UNRWA.
During a visit to Dublin by UNRWA CG @UNLazzarini, the Tánaiste underlined that in #Gaza "UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response & urgently needs support".Full statement:👉https://t.co/o76MYpAZrH pic.twitter.com/JpSxW861wb
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) February 15, 2024
Ireland's DFA noted how on January 26, UNRWA announced allegations that 12 UNRWA staff participated in the heinous Hamas attacks on Israel. In response to the allegations, UNRWA immediately terminated the accused's contracts, notified the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) launched an investigation, and the UN Secretary General appointed an independent Review Group to assess UNRWA’s controls. This review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna commenced work yesterday, February 14.
In response to these accusations, UNRWA donors responsible for up to 70% of UNRWA’s budget suspended or paused funding.
"I was deeply concerned that a number of UNRWA’s key donors suspended their funding based on allegations against a very small number of staff that have yet to be proven," the Tánaiste said in a press conference on Thursday during UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini's visit to Dublin.
"Our partners in the EU and elsewhere, including the United States, must urgently rescind this decision and resume funding.
"Ireland’s support remains steadfast and I am happy today to announce funding of €20 million for UNRWA for its operations in 2024."
In a further statement, the Tánaiste said: “In Gaza, we are bearing witness to a humanitarian catastrophe. People are in dire need of the most basic lifesaving provisions – food, water, shelter.
"In these most harrowing conditions, facing the prospect of further military escalation, UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response. It urgently needs support from all UN Member States.
"Today, I am pleased to confirm that Ireland will immediately provide €20 million in core funding to UNRWA to sustain its vital ongoing work in Gaza, as well as across the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
"I urge other donors to resume and expand support to UNRWA so that it can deliver for the millions of Palestinian refugees in need.”
Today I announced €20 million in support for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), which provides healthcare and other services for those in need, and urged countries that have suspended funding to resume and increase support to the agency. pic.twitter.com/IN9otkr3Y2
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 15, 2024
The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Seán Fleming TD, added: “Ireland has made clear that there needs to be a dramatic upscaling in the level of humanitarian aid reaching people in Gaza.
"Today, Ireland is stepping up to provide €20 million to UNRWA to address the urgent needs of Palestinian refugees. This represents our highest ever annual contribution to the Agency to date.”
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that the additional €20 million announced today builds on Ireland’s longstanding support for the critical work of UNRWA. In 2023, Ireland provided €18 million of support to UNRWA, with a further €18 million provided to a range of partners active in education, human rights and democracy, and humanitarian assistance.
The Mission of the State of Palestine in Dublin extended its "sincere appreciation" after the funding announcement.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Ireland, the Tainaste, and the @dfatirl for their commitment to supporting UNRWA and sustaining its vital ongoing work in the Gaza Strip, as well as in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.https://t.co/Qh3az4GW1c
🇵🇸🇮🇪🇵🇸🇮🇪 https://t.co/kV82jNv1HE
— Mission of the State of Palestine to Ireland (@IrePalestine) February 15, 2024
The UNRWA funding announcement comes the day after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar issued a joint letter with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urging the EU Commission to "undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement."
Comments