Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has written to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this evening urging the government to immediately provide increased funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) so that they can continue to provide vital assistance to the people of Gaza.
Ms. McDonald said:
“Recent days have seen several states suspend, cut or threaten the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Such actions are unconscionable given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the critical role that UNRWA is playing in supporting the almost 2 million people displaced as a result of the Israeli bombardment and genocide.
“It is welcome that the Irish government has made clear that it remains committed to funding UNRWA and at the Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday the Tánaiste gave a commitment to look at the possibility of increased funding, as the Spanish government have already done.
“It is critical that no time is lost and that the Irish government moves speedily. The people of Gaza cannot be subjected to collective punishment by either the Israeli state and or the International community.
“Not only is the work of UNRWA essential in the midst of this crisis, they will have a role so long as there is a refugee population in Palestine.”
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