UAE donates $5 million to support UNRWA initiatives in Gaza
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met Sigrid Kaag to enhance medical aid for Palestinians
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged $5 million to support the initiatives led by Sigrid Kaag, the chief United Nations Coordinator for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), aimed at the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. This move follows significant funding cuts that had jeopardized UNRWA’s operations.
According to the state news agency WAM, the commitment was made after a meeting between UAE’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and Sigrid Kaag. The discussions centered around enhancing the delivery of relief and medical aid to the Palestinian people in a secure and sustainable manner.
During the meeting, both officials examined ways to promptly address the escalating humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the crucial role of UNRWA and stressing the necessity to support the agency’s humanitarian aid endeavors for Palestinian refugees.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE foreign minister, called for international multilateral efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, protect civilian lives, and facilitate urgent humanitarian relief.
This development comes in the wake of major donors suspending funding to UNRWA following allegations that approximately 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.
