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Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports civilians in the humanitarian crisis of Gaza

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

03.11.2023

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. The Ministry of Defence is also supporting Israel with medical equipment. The total worth of the humanitarian and medical aid Estonia is sending to the region amounts to €240 000.

"The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is getting worse - more than 2 million people need assistance and according to estimates, 1.4 million people have been forced to leave their homes," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna commented.

The UN has issued an international call for assistance due to the humanitarian crisis and the organisation has noted that the region lacks sufficient drinking water, food and health services.

"We have clearly stated that both parties of the conflict should make maximum efforts to spare the lives of civilians, and this also applies to the residents of Gaza," Tsahkna said. "The continued, safe and unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to those who need it is crucial."

"Estonia is condemning in the strongest terms the brutal and indiscriminate terror attacks of Hamas in Israel. We are supporting Israel's right to defend itself within international humanitarian law," Tsahkna said.

Humanitarian aid channels

• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
UNRWA aims to help Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, and it has a central role in providing life-saving services to civilians, especially now. Humanitarian aid is provided to civilians based on their humanitarian needs.

• World Food Programme (WFP)
WFP gives out previously stored food supplies in shelters and other sites that house displaced people, and it also provides financial aid to vulnerable populations to enable them to buy food. With its first humanitarian aid convoy, the WFP sent 60 tonnes of food aid through the Rafah border crossing. WFP has stored a further 1000 tonnes of food in Egypt near the Gaza border.

• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
More than half of the population of Gaza is made up of children under 18 who have already gone through several escalations of the conflict. UNICEF works in Gaza in education, healthcare and child protection; in the current crisis, it also helps with the distribution of basic necessities.