The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will lift the pause on funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the key aid delivery body operating in Gaza.

In a statement to MPs, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined that the UK will release £21 million to support its lifesaving work in Gaza and the provision of basic services in the region.

This funding will go towards UNRWA’s flash appeal for Gaza and the West Bank, which focuses its resources on emergency food, shelter and other support for 3 million people, as well as its wider work supporting 6 million Palestinian refugees across the region.

The UK’s funding for UNRWA was paused in light of allegations by Israel that 12 staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel. Following an independent review by Catherine Colonna and the subsequent action plan UNRWA has provided setting out detailed management reforms, the government is confident that UNRWA is taking action to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality.

Today’s announcement brings the UK into line with partners such as Germany, the EU, Sweden, Japan, France and other donors who have reinstated funding.

UNRWA is the main provider of humanitarian relief within Gaza, and other UN and humanitarian actors depend on UNRWA’s distribution network to get aid to those who need it most. UNRWA has provided 1.15 million people facing devastating hunger in Gaza with food parcels.  

The Foreign Secretary spoke with UN Secretary General Guterres last night to confirm the UK’s decision to restart funding and discuss the UN’s vital role in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.  

The Foreign Secretary also raised the urgent need for the conflict to end during his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 14-15 July, and committed to providing another £5.5 million this year to UK-Med to fund their life-saving work in Gaza. This funding will be used to support the ongoing work of their field hospitals and the emergency department at Nasser Hospital.

The Foreign Secretary said to parliament:

“UK humanitarian aid in Gaza is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe.  

“UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can get aid into Gaza at the scale needed to alleviate the suffering.

“I was appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7th October attacks. We are reassured that UNRWA is taking robust action after an independent review, ensuring they meet the highest standards of neutrality and strengthen procedures, including on vetting.

“UNRWA has acted. Partners like Japan, the EU and Norway have now acted. This Government will act too…. We will back their lifesaving work.”

Jeff Smith, MP for Manchester Withington has said of the news:

“I am relieved that funding has been reinstated to the UNWRA. It is a vital service for delivering aid for those affected in Gaza. Before the last election, Labour had repeatedly pushed the previous government for a plan to reinstate funding after UNRWA clearly committed to taking action after the allegations were revealed.

As one of the first steps Labour have taken in government, alongside using their first meetings with the Israeli government to push for an end of the crisis, it is clear that ending the devastation on the Gaza strip is a key priority for the Labour government. The UK must use its unique position in global politics to push for an immediate ceasefire.”