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Current Affairs

India Pledges $5 Million to UNRWA for Palestinian Refugees in 2024-25

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India committed a total of USD 5 million as annual assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for the fiscal year 2024-25. This amount was disbursed in two equal tranches of USD 2.5 million each, with the first tranche released on July 18, 2024, and the second tranche on November 18, 2024. India’s contribution supports UNRWA’s core humanitarian programs including education, healthcare, and social services for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. Additionally, between October 2023 and November 2024, India provided about 135 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Palestine, including 81.5 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies. India continues to back a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating peaceful resolution.

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Key Facts

  • India pledged an annual contribution of USD 5 million to UNRWA for 2024-25, disbursed in two tranches of USD 2.5 million each on July 18 and November 18, 2024.
  • The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide education, healthcare, relief, and social services to Palestinian refugees.
  • India provided approximately 135 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid between October 2023 and November 2024, including 81.5 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies provided on specific requests made by UNRWA.
  • India has historically supported the two-state solution as a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Background & Context

UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly to support Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. It operates primarily in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, delivering essential services such as education, healthcare, social welfare, and emergency assistance.

India’s consistent contributions towards UNRWA's core programs and humanitarian supplies form part of its longstanding support for the Palestinian people and commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine dispute. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN reaffirmed India's position on supporting a two-state solution during the United Nations Security Council meeting on June 11, 2026.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

India’s financial aid and humanitarian contributions to UNRWA are relevant for current affairs topics related to India’s foreign relations, international humanitarian efforts, and the Middle East conflict. Examination questions often include details on India’s global aid commitments, its role in international organizations, and its diplomatic stances on critical geopolitical issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Points to Remember

  • UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly to support Palestinian refugees.
  • India’s annual contribution to UNRWA for 2024-25 is USD 5 million, paid in two equal tranches of USD 2.5 million (July 18 and November 18, 2024).
  • India provided about 135 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Palestine from October 2023 to November 2024, including 81.5 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies.
  • India supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, reaffirmed during the UN Security Council meeting on June 11, 2026.
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