Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji announced on Wednesday an additional €2.5 million donation from Ireland, aimed at funding the United Nations Humanitarian Fund in Lebanon.
The announcement was made during a meeting held at the ministry, in the presence of Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris and the Irish delegation, which included the Irish Ambassador to Lebanon, Nuala O’Brien, as well as officials from both countries.
This contribution is allocated to the fund managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), of which Ireland is one of the five largest contributors. In 2025, according to the OCHA website, three countries have already made contributions: Australia, Switzerland and Canada, with a total amount of $4.93 million. Ireland, with its €2.5 million donation, joins the list of donor countries for 2025.
UNIFIL and Bilateral Relations
Harris also expressed his pride in the involvement of Irish peacekeeping forces in Lebanon since 1978. He added, “We remain fully committed to supporting the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and to maintaining peace in Lebanon.” It is worth noting that the Irish contingent of UNIFIL includes 339 Irish soldiers.
The Irish Deputy Prime Minister added, “Although Lebanon faces many challenges, it also represents a moment of hope for the Lebanese people. We hope that essential reforms will be undertaken to secure the country’s future and establish peace,” he stated.
Finally, he emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries, both bilaterally and through their joint commitment within the European Union, to promote regional stability, particularly in Syria.
For his part, Rajji expressed his gratitude to Ireland for its continued support to Lebanon, highlighting the importance of this aid in meeting the growing humanitarian needs in the country. “Lebanon deeply thanks Ireland for this significant contribution. Your support is essential during this difficult time,” he concluded.
Murder of the Irish Peacekeeper
The Irish minister also met on Wednesday morning with Minister of Defense Michel Menassa. According to a post on his X account, Harris expressed concern “about the lack of progress in prosecuting those responsible for the murder of soldier Seán Rooney,” stressing the urgency of moving this case forward. Seán Rooney was killed during a patrol in southern Lebanon in December 2022.
On X, Harris explained that he submitted a formal request to Minister Rajji for justice to be served in the case of the murdered Irish soldier.
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