The UK will provide new funding to the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees UNRWA to help provide food, water, and emergency shelter
to Palestinians affected by the recent escalation in violence in
Gaza, the UK’s Minister for the Middle East announced today.
The UK support comes as UNRWA launches an emergency appeal
calling for urgent support to meet immediate humanitarian needs.
Existing UK aid to UNRWA is already helping the Agency to provide
food supplies to more than one million refugees in Gaza this
year.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was already concerning, with
the percentage of the population living in poverty expected to
increase this year from 53 per cent to 64 per cent. COVID is
still spreading in Gaza and 2 million Palestinians have been
living under severe movement and access restrictions.
Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, , said:
“Palestinian and Israeli civilians should not face the brunt of
this conflict, and no child or family should go without food,
water or shelter. Today’s UK support will help UNRWA deliver
life-saving humanitarian aid to those that need it most.
“The international community needs to ensure UNRWA is able to
save lives and reduce the suffering.
“The escalation of violence and loss of life in Israel and the
Occupied Palestinian Territories has shocked all of us. Both
sides must work towards an immediate ceasefire, to prevent the
further loss of life and a worsening humanitarian situation.”
The UK Foreign Secretary has spoken in recent days with the Israeli Foreign
Minister and Palestinian Prime Minister, where he reinforced the
UK’s clear message of de-escalation.
At the UN Security Council, the UK is calling for an urgent
ceasefire and measures by all sides to reduce further violence.
The UK will also participate in an emergency UN General Assembly
session today.
Notes to editors
· The UK is providing an initial £3.2 million of UK aid to
UNRWA’s emergency flash appeal, which launched yesterday (19 May
2021). The appeal focuses on meeting the immediate humanitarian
needs of vulnerable Palestinians living in Gaza.
