EU Foreign Affairs Head Catherine Ashton. Photo: wiki commons.

Following her visit to Israel on Tuesday, European Union Foreign Affairs head Catherine Ashton spent her time in Gaza on Wednesday.

While there, she agreed in writing to send $70.9 Million dollars worth of aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA).  The agency’s website noted the contribution as the “largest single donation to UNRWA’s core budget.”

“The continued EU support to UNRWA is an essential element of the EU strategy to bring peace and stability to the region. The € 55.4 million contribution we are signing today represents our ongoing commitment to Palestine refugees,” Ashton said, according to UNRWA’s website.

She continued, saying “It will support UNRWA’s general fund, the main engine that keeps the organization going and provides all its essential services. I am very pleased we can announce this from Gaza today and would like to pay tribute to the important work UNRWA is doing for the population of Gaza.”

The funds will help provide services in Jordan, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank.