The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and Finland have signed a new Multi-Year Agreement (MYA) for the 2023-2026 period, with a total contributed amount of EUR 20 million.

UNRWA said the agreement builds upon the long-term, close and successful cooperation between UNRWA and Finland and follows the previous 2019-2022 MYA, which provided EUR 5 million per year to the Agency’s Programme Budget.

“Finland highly values the indispensable work of UNRWA with Palestine refugees, including in providing basic services for example in education and health care. Finland is a long-standing and stable supporter of UNRWA. More than ever, UNRWA needs adequate funds, political support and sustainability to fulfill its core mandate,” said Ambassador Päivi Peltokoski from the Representative Office of Finland in Ramallah.

UNRWA Director of Partnerships, Karim Amer, said, “On behalf of the Agency, I would like to express my gratitude to the government of Finland for its commitment in supporting UNRWA with unearmarked and predictable funding disbursed early in the year. This trust is tremendously important for the Agency and its stability, especially considering the difficult current financial situation.” 

In 2022, Finland contributed an additional EUR 2 million to its EUR 5 million yearly contribution to support the Agency’s continuous provision of core services – including running 140 health-care facilities. This allowed for more than 7 million patient visits and 706 schools for over half a million students across the UNRWA’s five fields of operation.