Erdogan says UNRWA to open office in Turkey, calls for more support for agency
21 June 2025 16:42
ANKARA (Reuters) The United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA will open an office in Ankara, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, urging countries to give the agency more support after Israel banned it.Turkey has called Israel's move to ban UNRWA a violation of international law, particularly amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has been reduced to rubble with millions displaced.Addressing foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Erdogan said opening an Ankara UNRWA office would deepen Turkey's support for the agency."We must not allow UNRWA, which plays an irreplaceable role in terms of taking care of Palestinian refugees, to be paralysed by Israel," Erdogan said.A Turkish diplomatic source said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini were expected to sign an accord on the sidelines of the OIC meeting in Istanbul on establishing the office.Turkey has given UNRWA $10 million a year between 2023 and 2025. In 2024, it also transferred $2 million and sent another $3 million from its AFAD disaster management authority.
Aid to Gaza's 2.3 million residents had been distributed mainly by UN agencies such as UNRWA with thousands of staff at hundreds of sites across the enclave.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
38 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
US B-2 bombers involved in Iran strikes, US official says
US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes on Iran's nuclear sites which Donald Trump announced moments ago, a US official told Reuters on Saturday evening. Reuters had reported earlier in the day the movement of B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be capable of striking the sites.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
US attacks three Iranian nuclear sites, Trump announces
The US carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he said. "All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, an American official told Reuters. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Reuters had reported earlier in the day the movement of B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs capable of such strikes. Iranian media confirmed on Sunday that parts of nuclear sites were struck. "A few hours ago, after Qom's air defences were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordow nuclear site was attacked by enemy air strikes," Tasnim news agency reported, quoting Morteza Heydari, spokesperson for crisis management in the Qom region. Fordow, the secretive Iranian nuclear enrichment facility buried half a kilometre under a mountain, is located near the city of Qom. Separately, Fars news agency said: "The air defences of Isfahan and Kashan began to work to counter hostile targets, and several explosions were heard simultaneously." Israel was in "full coordination" with Washington over the strikes, an Israeli official told Israeli public broadcaster Kan. The United States "gave Israel a heads-up before the strikes," a senior White House official told AFP. Israel's military raised the country's alert level following the US strikes on Iran. Public safety restrictions were raised to "essential activity", the military said in a statement. Schools and workplaces would be closed under the new restrictions, with the exception of "essential sectors". This is a developing story
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
US bombs three Iranian nuclear sites including Fordow
Israeli military continues strikes on Iran as it prepares for 'prolonged campaign' Erdogan: Turkey ready to mediate between Israel and Iran Israel claims Iran was plotting attack in Cyprus Putin pledges support for Iranian nuclear energy programme Israeli military says it killed two IRGC commanders More than 400 killed in Israeli strikes, Iranian health ministry says
