A decision by any country to pull funding from the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) would be “incomprehensible,” according to the Tánaiste.

Micheál Martin was speaking as he visited the UNRWA-funded Talibeh refugee camp in Jordan yesterday as he concluded his visit to the Middle East.

On The Pat Kenny Show today, Newstalk Chief Reporter Barry Whyte, who is with the Tánaiste on his trip, said the camp is home to 10,600 Palestinians.

“It consists of houses, an elementary school, and a medical centre,” he said.

“Over 1,000 children attend school here and all the children were born in the refugee camp – despite being born in Jordan, they still see themselves as Palestinian.”

Palestinian refugees Majid, Dana, Farah, Talla and Lubna in the Talbieh Refugee camp in Jordan, alongside Newstalk's Barry Whyte. Image: Newstalk

The Tánaiste told Barry he was impressed by how UNRWA money was spent on his visit to Talibeh.

“I visited a UNRWA school and medical clinic this morning to see at first hand the importance of the funding UNRWA receives from Ireland and other countries at first hand,” he said.

“It was very encouraging to see so many young children learn a modern, UNESCO-approved curriculum, learning about human rights and understanding what’s going on around them.

“I also met the medical clinic which has done extraordinary work in terms of maternal care and vaccinations – vaccination rates are as high as 97% in that particular Palestinian refugee camp.”

An UNRWA sign on a girls school at the Talibeh refugee camp in Jordan. Image: dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Martin said UNRWA is “central” to the camp's success.

“I find it incomprehensible as to how people can even contemplate taking money and funding from UNRWA and that’s why we took the stance we did," he said.

“I’m now saying for future situations, Europe needs to develop a system so that just because something is said and allegations get made, that funding isn’t automatically reviewed or cut.”

UNRWA spokesperson Tamara Alrafai in Talibeh. Image: Barry Whyte

UNRWA spokesperson Tamara Alrifai said they were shocked by the decision of 18 countries to pull funding from the relief agency earlier this year.

“In the few weeks and the couple months following the decision, we have worked very closely with these 18 Governments to bring back the trust to reassure them and prove our commitment to humanitarian principles,” she said.

“We are still not out of the woods yet, we have enough funding until the end of June and we are imploring Governments and partners to continue funding UNRWA.

“We are very grateful to Ireland for its steadfast, continual belief in us through their political and financial support and for working with the EU and other Governments to help make our case.

There are 10 UNRWA-run refugee camps in Jordan, accommodating 2.5 million people.

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Main image: The Tánaiste Michael Martin meeting a doctor in the Talibeh, UNRWA-funded refugee camp in Jordan. Image: Twitter/ Micheál Martin