Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, has announced a new package of funding to strengthen humanitarian support across the Middle East. The commitment includes multi-million-euro contributions directed to UN agencies and UNICEF to address urgent needs in conflict-affected areas.
Announcing the decision, Minister Richmond highlighted the dangerous and volatile situation in the region, with particular focus on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He recently visited the United Arab Emirates for bilateral talks with ministerial counterparts to explore ways of expanding assistance to those enduring extreme hardship.
Ireland has already provided €29 million in humanitarian support to the Palestinian people this year, underscoring its priority to aid civilians in Gaza. Minister Richmond stressed that further announcements of humanitarian assistance for the region will follow in the coming weeks, reflecting Ireland’s broader commitment to helping the most vulnerable.
He emphasized that Ireland’s approach is rooted in supporting the United Nations and strengthening the multilateral system to respond to today’s complex crises. By providing core funding to trusted agencies like UNICEF, which continues vital work for children in Gaza and beyond, Ireland aims to reinforce its global humanitarian footprint while upholding international cooperation.