The Foreign Ministry decided to
support the activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
(UNRWA) in 2013.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia highly values the work of
the UNRWA. “The organisation is the protector of and spokesperson for over five
million refugees in the Middle East,” he said.
The foreign minister added that thus far a solution has not been found for the
problems of the Palestinian refugees and these people need the support of the
international community. “Therefore Estonia has decided to make a
contribution through the UN Relief and Works Agency to help Palestinian
refugees,” he stated.
Paet emphasised that Estonia
supports a two-state solution – the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. “In
order for this solution to become a reality, direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine
must be restored,” he noted.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
has been a spokesperson for Palestinian refugees since 1950. The aid given by
the organisation includes food aid, health care, and education, as well as
supporting and repairing infrastructure. Refugees are also supported with
humanitarian aid in the form of jobs and small loans. The activities of
the UNRWA depend almost entirely on voluntary donations.
The Foreign Ministry is supporting the activities of the UN Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in 2013 with 50 000 euros.
