Press release
Tánaiste announces funding of €6 million to UN Agency for Palestine Refugees
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, today announced a contribution of €6 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
This funding will assist UNRWA in addressing the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestine refugees across UNRWA’s five fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Announcing the contribution, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:
"UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering critical services such as healthcare, education, humanitarian relief and social services to people who face very severe challenges. I am pleased to announce this financial assistance for UNRWA, which is another sign of Ireland’s commitment to supporting the agency’s work."
The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Seán Fleming added:
"Ireland’s funding to UNRWA will assist the agency to deliver essential services to more than 5.7 million Palestine refugees across the region. I am conscious that the staff of the agency work under challenging conditions and I want to pay tribute to them for their dedication to their important task."
There are 5.7 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
€5 million of Ireland’s 2023 support is core funding for UNRWA’s 2023 Programme Budget, of which €1 million is for use in Lebanon. A further €1 million will be allocated to UNRWA’s Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal.
UNRWA’s Programme Budget is used to provide essential services for Palestine refugees in the fields of health, education, microfinance, infrastructure and camp improvement, protection, relief and social services across its five areas of operation.
UNRWA’s Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal addresses the basic humanitarian needs of Palestine refugees affected by the conflict in Syria. Palestine refugees have been disproportionately affected by this conflict, with an estimated 438,000 UNRWA-registered refugees remaining inside the country, of which almost one third are children.