UAE pledges $20 million to UN Agency for Palestine refugees

The UAE has pledged $20 million (around AED 73.6 million) for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, said the contribution will be disbursed over the next two years.

During a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly, she highlighted the "precarious" state of the UNRWA's financial situation, adding that "the agency’s future hangs in the balance".

"Through the UAE’s support, we aim to contribute to a more predictable and sustained funding of the Agency," Nusseibeh said.

"Not only does UNRWA play a vital role in improving the lives of millions of Palestinian refugees, the agency contributes to maintaining regional security and stability."

The agency was established by UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide education, health care, relief and social services to Palestinian refugees. It is funded almost entirely by contributions from UN Member States.

UAE assistance to Palestine amounted to $521 million, $119.3 million through UNRWA, during the period 2018-2023.