India releases first tranche of $2.5 million contribution to UNRWA
The embassy further said that Palestinians had ” followed with great interest India’s pledge of support to UNRWA during the UNRWA conference held in New York and announced that in addition to financial assistance, New Delhi will provide medicines to UNRWA upon request.”
By IAR Desk
New Delhi: July 16, 2024: India has released the first tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as a part of its annual contribution at USD 5 Million for the year 2024-2025.
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in New Delhi expressed “sincere thanks and appreciation” to the Indian Government to release of the first tranche USD 2.5 million to the united Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East UNRWA as a part of its annual contribution at USD 5 Million for the year 2024-2025.
The embassy further said that Palestinians had ” followed with great interest India’s pledge of support to UNRWA during the UNRWA conference held in New York and announced that in addition to financial assistance, New Delhi will provide medicines to UNRWA upon request.”
This Indian assistance and this pledge an important step to support and strengthen the role of UNRWA in the face of attempts to target its role and existence by the Israeli government
In a statement appreciating India’s contribution to UNRWA, the Embassy said that “this assistance, whether financial or medical, constitutes an important part of the assistance provided to the Palestinian people in various fields, which we look forward to increasing during the next stage due to the urgent need due to the Israeli war on Gaza….”
About 2.2 million Palestinians were residing in Gaza Strip on an area of 365 km2, representing about 41% of the population of Palestine. Most of this population (about 66%) are refugees, about 2 million Palestinians left their homes out of about 2.2 million Palestinians who were residing in Gaza Strip on the eve of the Israeli occupation aggression, the statement said.
The importance of UNRWA for Palestinians goes beyond access to vital services, as they see its existence as linked to the preservation of their rights as refugees, especially their hope to return to their homes from which they or their ancestors were expelled during the Nakba.
Meanwhile, UNRWA is facing Israeli plans to target the body of the United Nations Foundation, which witnesses the case of more than 6 million Palestinian refugees and provides services to them in its five areas of operation (Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon).
The statement further said that it hoped that through its bilateral relationship with the pillars of the international community and through its effective position in many important political and economic blocs and groupings around the world, India will work to preserve UNRWA and strengthen its status and role, for which it was founded in 1949, and that Israeli attempts to replace it with other institutions will fail.
