Iceland increases contributions to UNRWA

Today, the Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, Ásmundur Einar Daðason attended on behalf of the Prime Minister of Iceland the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response conference in Jordan.  

In his address, the Minister placed emphasis on the horrible reality of children and youth in Gaza and stressed the importance of investing in their well-being in the post-war reconstruction. "Not only can the killing, maiming, or taking children as hostages, never be justified – their unimaginable suffering and deprivation also threatens to undermine peace and trust between the people of Israel and Palestine for generations to come," said Ásmundur Einar. He reiterated Iceland's call for an immediate ceasefire, increased humanitarian access and the release of hostages. 

The Minister also announced a 100 million ISK additional contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). With this addition, Iceland will have contributed 290 million ISK to humanitarian assistance for Palestine this year.  

On this occasion, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, says that the Government of Iceland will continue to contribute to humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. She further emphasised the urgency of a ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian assistance and release of hostages: "We call for the immediate implementation of yesterday's Security Council resolution - the cycle of violence must end".  

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson: "Children can never be made responsible for war and it is unacceptable that they must pay for it with their lives. Iceland will now, as it has done in the past, call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution."