Qatar has time and again reiterated its steadfast support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), emphasising its commitment to international obligations, multilateral efforts and its unwavering stance in support of the Palestinian people. It was the first Arab country to sign a multi-year agreement with the UNRWA in 2018 and one of its largest supporters, with the country’s financial contributions to the agency amounting to over $49m in 2024. In September last year, Qatar during a ministerial meeting in support of UNRWA on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, announced further $100m pledge as part of its response to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Qatar called for a unified international stance in support of UNRWA as a key humanitarian assistance provider in Gaza amid adverse measures by the Israeli government. It was among the first countries to sign the Statement of Shared Commitments on UNRWA, in recognition of the agency’s crucial role in providing life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees. The country has continuously increased its donations to UNRWA, and was the first Arab country to sign a multi-year agreement with the agency in 2018. The nation has provided $1.2bn worth of support in the last eight years for education, electricity, infrastructure, housing, and job creation. UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna recently highlighted Qatar’s important role in supporting the agency. He said that it was one of the first countries to respond to humanitarian situation in Gaza before and after the ceasefire and noted the substantial increase in Qatari aid following the ceasefire agreement. He said that UNRWA continues its operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, stressing that halting the agency’s work in Gaza would mean the cessation of essential services. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as dire, noting that the humanitarian aid received so far does not exceed 10,000 trucks, which is merely a drop in the ocean of Gaza’s vast humanitarian needs, especially in terms of food supplies. He added that the health sector urgently needs substantial aid, including field hospitals, medical teams, equipment, and medicines. There is a dire need for tents to shelter Palestinians whose homes have been completely destroyed, along with the repair of electricity and water networks, and the introduction of specialised teams to remove thousands of unexploded mines and shells. UNRWA represents the largest share of humanitarian and relief operations in Gaza, where it has been active since 1950, and it has managed to reach 1.3 million Palestinians after the ceasefire.
