Finland to support Red Cross in Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank

Finland will allocate EUR 4 million in support of the humanitarian efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the occupied Palestinian territory (the Gaza Strip and the West Bank) and in Israel, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release on Wednesday.

Finland will also award a discretionary government grant amounting to EUR 1 million to support the work of the Israeli Red Cross Society, Magen David Adom (MDA), in the aftermath of the Hamas attack in October.

The Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on 7 October and Israel’s battle against Hamas in the Gaza Strip have created great humanitarian needs in the region.

“Finland will help civilians in need of humanitarian aid. Our support will be granted from the Foreign Ministry’s existing budget, and it will be delivered through reliable channels,” said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supports healthcare in the region by providing material assistance, mental support and medical personnel. It helps deliver supplies and food and strives to maintain water services and other critical services.

The National Red Cross Societies of the region, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Israeli Magem David Adom, which are supported by the ICRC, will deliver aid to those in need.

The Finnish Red Cross (FRC) will support the ICRC operations by supplying financial and material assistance and, where possible, by sending experts. The FRC has already dispatched an emergency response unit to Egypt to coordinate the delivery of emergency aid to the Gaza Strip.

Finland will also award a discretionary government grant amounting to EUR 1 million to support the work of the Israeli Magen David Adom in the aftermath of the Hamas attack in October.

With Finland’s support, the MDA will be able to reinforce its operations by procuring ambulances and by strengthening its medical teams, among other measures.