Thank you for contacting me about the UK’s decision to temporarily pause future funding to UNRWA.
Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the events that took place on 7 October in Israel are appalling, which is why the UK Government took decisive action to pause future funding to the organisation.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will set out its position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of Catherine Colonna's final report, UNRWA’s response and the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation into these allegations.
The decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response: the UK remains wholly committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. The Government is getting on with aid delivery, funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs, and is doing everything it can to get more aid in by land, sea and air .
The Foreign Secretary recently announced a further £10 million in aid spending for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), bringing UK support to more than £100 million in the financial year 2023/24. The UK has trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs, and funding has supported partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme and Egyptian Red Crescent Society to deliver vital supplies.
I wholeheartedly welcome that more than 2,000 tonnes of food aid – the UK’s largest delivery of aid to Gaza thus far – crossed the border on 20 March, and is being distributed by the WFP on the ground. This adds to the 150 tonnes of UK-funded relief items including blankets and tents, which arrived on 13 March, and will be distributed by UNICEF. A full UK field hospital run by UK-Med has also arrived in Gaza and is now operational and providing life-saving care. Ministers are continuing to do all that they can to get more aid in and open more crossings.
I continue to support the UK Government’s position, which is calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
