Ireland to give 20 million euros to UNRWA, urges key donors who suspended aid to reconsider decision

Ireland declared 20 million euros ($21.46 million) in support for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) on Thursday and urged nations that suspended funding to reconsider and increase aid to the agency. UNRWA, responsible for healthcare and education, faced crisis after Israel accused 12 of its 13,000 Gaza staff of involvement in the 7 October Hamas-led attack. Several countries, including the United States, its largest donor, halted funding. Dublin directly contributed 18 million euros to UNRWA in 2023, part of 36 million euros for Palestinians. Ireland, a longstanding advocate for Palestinian rights, follows Spain’s pledge of 3.5 million euros and Portugal’s announcement of one million euros in additional aid to UNRWA. “I urge other donors to resume and expand support to UNRWA so that it can deliver for the millions of Palestinian refugees in need,” Reuters quoted Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin as saying in a statement after meeting UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin. The wave of suspensions of funding started with the US, right after the investigation was announced. Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria and Romania joined Washington later. Meanwhile, the French foreign ministry announced that France has not planned a new payment to fund UNRWA in the first quarter of 2024, but would decide when the time comes what action to take in conjunction with the United Nations and its main donors. The European Union (EU) announced on Monday that it would review whether it could continue to fund UNRWA in light of the allegations. The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission announced that the body does not foresee any additional funding for the organisation until the end of February. Ireland and Norway, however, expressed continued support for UNRWA, saying the agency does crucial work to help Palestinians displaced and in desperate need of assistance in Gaza. With inputs from agencies