Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA Pledging Conference)
Statement of Estonia, delivered by Deivi-Päivi Jahami, Attaché, Permanent Mission of Estonia to the UN
New York, 30 June 2026
Excellencies, Colleagues,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union.
We thank the Secretary-General and UNRWA for convening today’s pledging conference at a moment of exceptional humanitarian need and political urgency.
Estonia remains deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and by the continuing needs of Palestine refugees across the region. Estonia has recently joined the Joint Statement on humanitarian access in Gaza and the registration law affecting INGOs, calling on Israel to allow all internationally recognized humanitarian organizations – the INGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and UN agencies including UNRWA – to carry out their vital work without obstruction.
Estonia condemns attacks against UNRWA and humanitarian personnel, premises, and operations. Humanitarian workers must be protected, and their ability to deliver life-saving assistance must be safeguarded.
We also recognize that UNRWA is operating under immense pressure. The Agency faces rising needs, severe operational constraints, and persistent funding shortfalls. Estonia’s position is clear: we continue to support UNRWA’s mandate and its essential humanitarian role. Estonia has already transferred its regular funding support to UNRWA for 2026 and we plan to continue as a stable donor also in 2027. These contributions reflect Estonia’s commitment to principled humanitarian action and to the welfare of Palestine refugees.
We commend the work of UNRWA’s committed staff who continue their work, putting their lives in danger. At the end of last year, our humanitarian director visited UNRWA’s Zarqa camp in Jordan. This engagement offered a valuable overview of UNRWA’s work. Its strong commitment to students’ development in Zarqa, supported by digital tools, was impressive. Hearing about the students’ aspirations for higher education and their desire to give back to their communities was particularly inspiring. The visit reaffirmed that our support and collaboration remain firmly on the right path.
At the same time, our support must go hand in hand with continued accountability, transparency, and neutrality of the organization. Estonia welcomes UNRWA’s efforts to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report with 40 out of 50 recommendations having been closed. We encourage UNRWA to continue with the implementation of the remaining recommendations. We see the Agency’s transparency portal with live data on UNRWA’s projects as a valuable tool to improve its transparency. These steps are essential for maintaining donor confidence and ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.
In closing, Estonia reaffirms its continued political and financial support for UNRWA. We remain committed to working with partners to ensure that Palestine refugees receive the assistance, protection, and dignity to which they are entitled.
Thank you.