The Maldives has pledged over 1.29 million USD to Palestine through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This announcement was made at the UNRWA Pledging Conference held at the UN Headquarters by Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations.
In his statement, Ambassador Mohamed highlighted that the Government of Maldives has increased its annual contribution to UNRWA ten-fold, from USD5,000 to USD50,000. He credited President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for organizing a telethon to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. This public initiative raised over USD1.2 million, which will be donated to Palestinians through UNRWA.
UNRWA, established in 1948 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly, plays a crucial role in providing essential services and emergency assistance to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely dire. Ambassador Mohamed emphasised the importance of international support, urging the global community to meet its financial and political obligations to UNRWA.
The decision to increase the Maldives' annual contribution to UNRWA from USD5,000 to USD50,000 was officially announced by President Dr. Muizzu on June 12.