Ireland's Foreign Ministry announces an additional €20 million in funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency(UNRWA) which is responsible for assisting Palestinians with basic needs.
The decision of Ireland has come during a difficult moment for Palestinians in Gaza which remain homeless and hopeless after 15 months of genocide by the State of Israel.
Few weeks ago,Palestinians started to return to the ruins of their bombed houses after Israel and Hamas reached a temporary ceasefire which might be lead to the permanent ceasefire if both parties stick to ceasefire agreement.
The Irish Foreign Minister has emphasized that an additional funding to UNRWA will be very helpful for Palestinian refugees which are scattered across Middle East since 1948.
"Today I'm announcing an additional €20 million in funding for UNRWA to provide assistance to people in Gaza,the West Bank and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.We have to take practical measures that will make a real difference to those suffering in the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East,this funding will do just that,"said Simon Harris,Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ireland.
Harris has pointed out that what his department is doing for the people of Palestine is doing that on behalf of the Irish government and its people.
Ireland has contributed almost €53 million to UNRWA on the basis humanitarian aid since 2023 and the Irish government is committed to ensure that the UN agency has sufficient funding to continue its operations in the Middle East.
Last year,UNRWA has been subjected to abuse by the State of Israel and its Western allies which they are accused it for participating in the 7 October 2023 attacks happened in southern Israel which was championed by Hamas without providing evidence.
Israeli parliament has passed the law which ban UNRWA from operating in the occupied-territories of Palestine which includes East Jerusalem,and Israel ordered UN agency to cease its operations by the end of last month.
Despite being ban,UNRWA is still continuing with its operations in the occupied-territories of Palestine without any coordination and communication with the Israeli authorities which poses some risks for their staff.