Source: International Development Committee
FCDO fails to answer on when UK funding to UNWRA will be
restoredUNWRA is the main aid agency operating in the Gaza Strip
and crucial to the delivery of aid there: before the current
conflict, it acted in some ways more as a local authority,
providing local services from education to refuse collection.
The World Health Organisation has confirmed in evidence to the
Committee that, even as the second largest provider there, it
could in no way compensate for gaps in health provision that
would arise from de-funding UNWRA. But many countries, some of
them among the biggest donors like the US and UK, paused funding
for UNWRA after allegations that some of its staff may have been
involved in the Hamas attacks of 7th October.
The FCDO committed to make a decision regarding future UK funding
of UNWRA once the independent investigation launched into those
allegations was concluded. That investigation has now reported,
and other major donor Germany has announced its decision to
resume funding.
But as correspondence between IDC Chair and Foreign Secretary published by the Committee
today shows, the UK has still not announced if or when it will
restore funding to enable UNWRA to continue its essential work
and improve distribution of the aid that is badly needed to stave
off the famine and disease taking hold in Gaza.
You can read the full exchange here:
