Minister Flanagan concludes his visit to Palestine by announcing €4.5 million funding for UNRWA
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, T.D. announced funding of €4.5 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees on the last day of his visit to Palestine
Minister Charlie Flanagan, T.D. met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and with Foreign Minister Riad Malki during his week-long visit to the Middle East, in which time he also visited West Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Cairo.
During the visit, Minister Flanagan discussed ways to advance the French Initiative, after attending the Paris conference on the Middle East Peace Process on 3 June. It was Minister Flanagan’s second trip to the region since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in July 2014. He also discussed recent developments on the ground with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Minister Flanaagan also met with UNRWA Deputy Director General Sandra Mitchell and announced a contribution of €4 million to UNRWA’s General Fund, saying that he is “committed to maintaining the same contribution level in 2017 and 2018. This multiannual commitment will allow UNRWA greater predictability and flexibility for improved delivery of basic services such as food, water, education and social services to Palestine refugees and will help make a real difference to the lives of this very vulnerable population.” This funding will be allocated to UNRWA’s General Fund, helping the Agency to deliver core services to some 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Over the period 2005-2015, Ireland has provided €39.65 million to UNRWA’s General Fund.
Minister Flanagan also announced a €500,000 contribution for UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal to help meet urgent humanitarian needs, saying “during my visit to Gaza last year, I saw first-hand the appalling destruction caused by the 2014 conflict, and the particularly difficult impact on children. UNRWA is playing a leading role in addressing the devastation caused by the conflict and in meeting immediate humanitarian needs.”
This funding fulfils Ireland’s pledge of €2.5 million made at the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference in 2014 and brings Ireland’s total support in the wake of the 2014 Gaza crisis to €3 million. Ireland has provided €7.14 million in humanitarian assistance in response to UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeals since 2006.