On 15/07/2024, the Government of India announced the release of the first tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as part of its annual USD 5 million contribution for the fiscal year 2024-25. This instalment brings India’s total contributions to the UN agency to USD 39.5 million.
An official press note from the government detailed India’s continued support: “Over the years, in its endeavour to support the Palestinian refugees and their welfare, India has provided financial support to the tune of USD 35 million till 2023-24 for UN Agency’s core programmes and services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services provided to Palestinian refugees.”
During the recent UNRWA Pledging Conference held in New York, India announced that in addition to financial assistance, it will provide medicines to UNRWA based on the agency’s specific requests. India also reiterated its call for a “safe, timely, and sustained” supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine.
On 13 July 2024, India reaffirmed its historic and unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Palestine question, supporting a negotiated “two-state solution.” This solution aims for the establishment of a “sovereign, independent and viable state” of Palestine at peace with Israel. Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador R. Ravindra, emphasized, “India has always supported a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within a secure and recognized border, side by side at peace with Israel.”
This contribution comes at a critical time when major world powers like the US and the UK are still considering whether to unfreeze their funds to the UN agency amid allegations from Israel about UNRWA staff having links to Hamas. Despite these claims, an independent review panel released a report in April stating that Israel had not provided sufficient evidence to support its accusations and blamed Israel for “financially hobbling” the agency, depriving it of around USD 450 million. The findings were accepted by the UN Secretary-General.
Dr Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Counsellor (Political and Media) at the Embassy of the State of Palestine, expressed gratitude for India’s steadfast support, stating, “India joins the countries that restored funding to UNRWA, even though India did not stop this support previously. It emphasizes the failure of Israeli attempts to target UNRWA, its role, and attempts to replace it with other institutions. We consider India’s support for Palestinian refugees support for the role of UNRWA and a victory for it.”
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The health ministry in Gaza reported on Monday that at least 38,664 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. This includes 80 new deaths in the past 24 hours, and a total of 89,097 people have been wounded since the war began on October 7 2024, when Hamas militants attacked Israel. The ministry also updated the toll from an Israeli airstrike on a school in central Gaza, raising the death count from 15 to 22.
India’s contributions, both financial and medical, underscore its commitment to international humanitarian efforts and align with its legal obligations under international humanitarian law to protect and assist vulnerable populations. This commitment reflects India’s broader foreign policy objectives of promoting peace, stability, and cooperative international relations, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
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Reported by: Sakkcham Singh Parmaar
Place: New Delhi
Date & Time: 19.07.2024 (9:50 AM)
