Minister Brophy pledges support to UN Agency for Palestine Refugees

The Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy T.D., today pledged €2 million in additional support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at an international Ministerial Conference.
Speaking virtually at the conference, Minister Brophy said:
“Ireland is a longstanding friend of UNRWA. A friendship that is based on our awareness of the agency’s critical role in supporting millions of Palestine refugees.
“UNRWA is as vital now as ever before, not least given the COVID 19 pandemic and the multiple crises in its fields of operation. I am pleased therefore to confirm that Ireland will provide an additional €2 million to UNRWA in 2021.”
The additional funding will bring Ireland’s 2021 contribution to UNRWA to a total of €9 million, equalling its largest-ever contribution to the agency. It will help support UNRWA to provide basic services and humanitarian assistance to 5.7 million Palestine refugees, in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.