Ireland has been a long-standing supporter of UNRWA and its indispensable role in the provision of essential services for Palestinian refugees.
We have been clear that the allegations made in January against a number of UNRWA employees are very serious and need to be investigated thoroughly. We have welcomed the UN's actions to investigate and have stated publicly that Ireland has no plans to suspend funding to UNRWA. On numerous occasions, we have stressed that Ireland has full confidence in the Agency's determination to uphold its zero tolerance policy for anyone involved in violence or terror. The Tánaiste expressed this support when Commissioner-General Lazzarini visited Dublin on 15 February. He also conveyed our decision to immediately provide €20 million in core funding to UNRWA for 2024, and he called on donors who had suspended their funding to resume and expand support to UNRWA. The Tánaiste subsequently raised the need for support for UNRWA when he visited Washington in early February, and Ireland has been consistent in calling for the resumption of funding to UNRWA at all levels in the EU. We have therefore welcomed the European Commission's decision on 1 March to immediately disburse €50 million in funding to UNRWA, with a further €32 million to follow, as well as €68 million for other international agencies working in the region.
Our contribution to UNRWA in 2024 is the highest ever, on top of the €18 million we provided in 2023. In total, we have so far provided overall assistance of €56 million for the Palestinian people since the start of 2023.
We are also clear that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is essential, and that humanitarian access needs to be restored without further delay. Humanitarian assistance needs to be scaled up urgently, to end the suffering of the people of Gaza. We will also work with partners to ensure credible movement towards negotiations for a two-State solution.
