Press release
Statement by the Tánaiste on release of European Commission funding to UNRWA
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
"I very much welcome the announcement by the European Commission that it will immediately release funding to UNRWA for urgently needed emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people.
"After four and a half months of relentless violence and displacement, civilians in Gaza are living in conditions that no human being should have to endure.
"Against this backdrop, the role and mandate of UNRWA is more important than ever. It is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza.
"It is clear that UNRWA is the one organisation that has the bandwidth and capacity to provide services and distribute aid comprehensively across Gaza and the wider region.
"That is why, in recent weeks, I have consistently advocated for all partners to immediately disburse funding to UNRWA.
"I appreciate the update received from European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen this morning, confirming that the Commission will immediately disburse €50 million in funding to UNRWA, with a further €32 million to follow, as well as €68 million for other international agencies working in the region.
"I welcome also the engagement between the Commission and the UN on the ongoing investigation of allegations that 12 UNRWA staff may have participated in the 7 October attack, as well as on the wider review of UNRWA, led by former French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna.
"It is essential that all UN member states cooperate in full with the investigation and the review.
"This is a critical moment - for desperate civilians in Gaza, and for the stability of the wider region. The international community needs to step up now to support UNRWA, so it can fulfil its vital and life-saving mandate. Ireland provided €20 million in core funding to UNRWA last month, for its work supporting 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan."