We continue to witness appalling scenes in Gaza. We have called on all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage release deal, and for an immediate end to hostilities, and a return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the deal. All parties should implement their commitments in full.
Renewed hostilities are disastrous for the people of Gaza, and for the hostages and their families. UN premises have again been affected with the loss of life of a UN worker last week. UNRWA has had 284 of its staff killed since the start of the conflict and 311 of its facilities damaged. Attacks on UN facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law.
UNRWA has been the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza since October 2023. The €20 million in core support which we are providing for 2025, brings our support to UNRWA to €58 million since 2023.
UNRWA has 13,000 staff in Gaza and it continues to deliver assistance in accordance with its mandate from the UN General Assembly. By mid-March, UNRWA had opened 130 temporary schools, returning 47,000 children to education. Ireland’s funds have supported psychological support to over 300,000 children, and 16,000 health consultations per day. During the ceasefire, our funds supported UNRWA to deliver food parcels across Gaza, and shelter material for more than half a million people. In the West Bank UNRWA has continued to deliver education and health services despite the restrictions of the Knesset Bills and the massive displacement of Palestine refugees since Israel’s offensive started there on 21 January.
Support to UNRWA has been a priority of the Government. If it were to be unable to operate because of lack of funding, thousands of lives would be imperilled and a dangerous vacuum created across the region, where Ireland's assistance also supports Palestinian refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. We are in contact with the Commissioner General of UNRWA and continue to urge the European Commission and others to make their planned payments to the organisation, so that it is not operating on a month to month basis.
We will continue to call for the repeal of Israel’s legislation against UNRWA, the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the protection of the UN and other humanitarian workers as they carry out their life saving work.
