Support for UNRWA as UK moves to restore funding
In January, sixteen countries cut $450 million in funding to the UN agency following unproven allegations from Israel that dozens of staff were involved in Hamas-led terrorist attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which left some 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken hostage.
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The announcement was made to MPs by the new Labour foreign secretary, David Lammy, signalling the first significant shift from the previous Conservative government’s stance on the Gaza crisis.
Mr Lammy told the House of Commons he was appalled by the allegations. UNRWA involvement in the attacks but was reassured after an independent review of the allegations was conducted at the request of the Secretary-General by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna. She reported that Israel had provided no evidence to substantiate its claims.
The Foreign Minister said UNRWA has now taken steps to ensure it meets “the highest standards of neutrality”.
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The UK will now provide around $27 million in funding to UNRWA to spend on food, shelter and other emergency humanitarian supplies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the report said.
When the allegations against the agency were first made, Britain joined the United States and many other countries in suspending funding, but the United States is now the only country continuing to cut funding to UNRWA – the main provider and distributor of aid across the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory.
An online post on Friday by UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the “lifesaving and human development work” of the agency’s teams, who represent the main aid provider to millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region.
Mr Lazzarini also reiterated his commitment to implementing the 50 recommendations of the independent report led by Ms Colonna.
Last week at a major pledging conference for UNRWA, where 118 member states expressed strong commitment to the agency, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres say Without more funding, Palestinian refugees “will lose a vital lifeline and the last glimmer of hope for a better future”.
“Let me be clear,” he added. “There is no alternative to UNRWA.”
