- UKset toannounce£23millionof support forUN agency responsible
for supporting Palestine refugeesat pledging conference in
New York.
- Announcementformspart oftheUK's commitment to support
humanitarian efforts in Gazaand support for Palestine refugees
across the region.
- Funding comes as United Nations Relief and Workers Agency
(UNRWA) continues to facesevererestrictions and disruption toits
lifesavingsupport.
TheUK governmentwilltoday [30 June]announce£23millionof support
for UNRWAto deliver lifesaving support for Palestine
refugeesatapledging conference in New York.
The funding will help UNRWA continue delivering essential
services for up to 5.9 million Palestine refugeesacross the
region. The funding will also support civilians in Gaza, where
humanitarian needsremainacute and families
facedisplacement,food insecurity andlimited access to
basic services.Funding will support primary healthcare, basic
education, social services, emergency food and
shelter.
The conference comes as UNRWA faces serious challengesoperatingon
the ground in Gaza, where 392 of its staff have been killed
since October 2023. Ongoing steps by Israel, including
legislation introduced in 2024, have sought to severely disrupt
its operations. In January, UNRWA's headquarters in East
Jerusalem were demolished and persistent access restrictions on
the humanitarian response in Gaza continue to hinder their
efforts.
The UK'sfunding,announced alongside support from other
international partners, underlines continued international
backing for UNRWA and the vital role of the UN in delivering
humanitarianassistance.
UNRWAis centraltodelivering
humanitarianassistanceandremainsuniquely placed to do soat the
scalerequiredinGaza.Its staff, infrastructure and local networks
are critical to reaching Palestinian civilians most in
need. UNRWA's work in the West Bank is also supporting
Palestinian refugees facing displacement, heightened insecurity,
access restrictions and increasing humanitarian needs for
protection and basic services.
Foreign Secretary said:
The humanitarian situation in Gaza isdesperate. Families urgently
need food, shelter, cleanwaterand medical supportI saw first-hand
during my visit to Jordan how UNRWAiscentral to delivering
help at the scalerequired.
That is why the UK is announcing £23millionof support for UNRWA,
alongside international partners, to help sustain its vital work
for Palestine refugees across the region and civilians in
Gaza.
UNRWA must be able tooperatesafely and effectively. We condemn
the Israeli government in preventing aid agencies like UNRWA to
undertake lifesaving work. This means allcrossings must be
opened, and supplies must be allowed in.
The UK continues to support UNRWA's reform and improvement work,
including implementation of its Action Plan following the Colonna
Report, which set out measures to strengthen
neutrality,accountabilityand integrity across the agency's
operations.
The UK has consistently called for humanitarian aid to flow into
Gaza at the scale needed, in line with UN Security Council
Resolution 2803, which underscores the importance of the full
resumption of humanitarian assistance in coordination
with the UN and its partners.
Israel mustcomply withits obligations
tofacilitatehumanitarianassistance, ensure aid workers
canoperatesafely, and allow UN agencies, including UNRWA, to
reach those in need.
The UKremainscommitted to a negotiated two-state solution that
guarantees security and stability for Israelis and
Palestinians.
