LONDON, September 5, 2018 (WAFA) – The United Kingdom announced on Tuesday a new aid package of £7 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to help it continue delivering healthcare and education to Palestinians.
The announcement of additional aid support from the Department for International Development (DFID) aims to help UNRWA keep schools open for over 500,000 children, and provide medical care for 3.5 million refugees, said a DFID press release.
The UK will step up its support to UNRWA to help ensure vulnerable Palestinians are able to continue accessing vital healthcare and education services, Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has announced.
The UN agency is facing severe financial pressure following a decision by the United States, its largest donor with $360 million a year, to stop all aid to the humanitarian agency.
“UK aid support through UNRWA provides an essential humanitarian and stabilizing force in the Middle East, educating hundreds of thousands of children every year and providing healthcare to some of the most vulnerable Palestinian refugees. Today’s UK aid package reaffirms our unequivocal support to this UN agency and the important work it does,” said Burt.
“We are deeply concerned about the devastating impact a shortage of funds for UNRWA could cause on those that rely on its services, as well as the consequences this could have for regional stability.”
The UK minister urged the international community and donors to follow the UK lead and step up support for UNRWA.
“Whilst today’s UK aid announcement will help to meet immediate needs, we are clear that the UK cannot act alone. For the sake of millions of Palestinians, the international community and other donors must follow our lead and step up support to UNRWA to ensure its vital services are not interrupted,” he said.
In March the UK announced that it was providing financial assistance earlier than originally planned to ensure some of the poorest Palestinians continue to receive education and healthcare. In June the UK provided an additional £10 million to help address the unexpected shortfall in funding, and meet growing beneficiary needs, particularly in Gaza.
The new £7 million announcement brings the total UK contribution to UNRWA’s Program Budget to £45.5m. In the financial year 2018/19, the UK has already provided £38.5m to UNRWA.
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