On December 10, 2020, the Representative of India to the State of Palestine, Sunil Kumar, presented a contribution of US$ 2 million on behalf of the Government of India (GoI) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This funding is meant to support the UNRWA programmes and services for Palestine refugees which include education, health care, relief and social services.
- With this contribution, the total funding by India to the agency has reached US$ 5 million in 2020. On 14th October, 2020 also GoI contributed US$ 1 Million for improving the lives of Palestine refugees suffering due to the pandemic. Click Here to Read
- UNRWA is the main provider of essential humanitarian assistance and critical services in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and Gaza.
Points to be noted:
–On June 23, 2020, the Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA was held where Minister of State (Mos) Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced an Indian contribution of US$ 10 million to UNRWA over the next two years i.e. in 2021 and 2022.
–It should be noted that India has increased its annual financial contribution to UNRWA from US$ 1.25 million in 2017 to US$ 5 million in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Recent Related News:
i.India announced the Phase-IV of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) in Afghanistan worth USD 80 million (Rs 592 crore), which envisages more than 100 projects. Notably, India’s funding for Afghanistan has reached over USD 3 billion (Rs 22,200 crore) so far.
ii.On November 3, 2020, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over a cheque of NPR (Nepalese Rupee) 1 Billion (~ INR 62.5 Crores) to Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Finance Minister of Nepal as reimbursement of Nepal Housing Reconstruction Project.
About United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
Commissioner-General– Philippe Lazzarini
Headquarters– Amman (Jordan) and Gaza or Gaza Strip
