President Higgins urges countries to reinstate funding for UN's Palestinian agency

“One wonders how the representatives of those countries who have withdrawn funding from UNRWA can look on as young infants struggle to live, infants whose lives could be saved by having such basics as bread and water,” President Michael D Higgins said. Photo: Julien Behal

President Michael D Higgins has appealed to countries who have revoked funding to the UN Palestinian agency to reconsider in order to avoid a “catastrophe” in Gaza.

In a statement, Mr Higgins is critical of the countries who have withdrawn funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

More than a dozen countries, including the US and UK, have paused funding to UNRWA, following Israeli claims that a number of its staff had been involved in the October 7 attack.

The aid agency took immediate action to remove those individuals which Israel identified, but claims are still being investigated by UNRWA.

“One wonders how the representatives of those countries who have withdrawn funding from UNRWA can look on as young infants struggle to live, infants whose lives could be saved by having such basics as bread and water,” the president said.

“Some of the most experienced and qualified experts familiar with what is happening in Gaza are saying that famine looms, with young children in particular heavily at risk and needing bread and clean water. Their mothers and close relatives listen to their cries in what must be conditions of unbelievable stress.” 

In recent weeks, Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed a further €20m in support for UNRWA, following a meeting with the agency’s Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin.

Mr Higgins referred to his own visits to Gaza years previous, saying that bakeries were of high importance to Palestinians.

“Today we have seen bakeries wiped out together with most places of shelter, where children struggle for food. Surely it cannot be possible for people to look on and allow this tragedy to unfold on our screens,” he said.

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He said that the weakening of UNRWA is “an undermining of the UN itself”.

“The lead taken by Ireland in giving increased and additional aid to UNRWA is an example of which Irish people can be proud of, not only because our own history, but given the importance international humanitarian action and international humanitarian law has in our world,” he said.

“As President of Ireland, I would appeal to those countries which have withdrawn aid to think again and to provide the desperately needed support to UNRWA’s 30,000 staff in the region and 13,000 staff in Gaza so we can avoid this catastrophe.” 

He also repeated calls for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages. “Children must not be abandoned to die as the facts of these situations are carried on the television screens of the world,” Mr Higgins said.

The president made the statement following a speech by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said that inaction by the Security Council over both Gaza and Ukraine had “severely — perhaps fatally — undermined its authority”.

In his speech, Mr Guterres said that “parties to conflict are turning a blind eye to international law, the Geneva Conventions and even the UN Charter”.