UN in Gaza Labor resumes funding for agency

The United Kingdom government will this Friday (19) accept the UN mandate for Palestinian refugees. The country has restored funding to the agency (UNRWA), which was suspended on October 7 when Israel linked 12 of the agency’s staff to attacks by Hamas.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament that the United Kingdom would send an initial sum of 21 million pounds (about $27 million) to provide basic services in Gaza.

Along with the United States, the United Kingdom is among the countries that have not resumed contributions to the humanitarian agency, which fired several staff and made internal changes following Israel’s allegations.

The British minister explained that he had spoken to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last night to inform him of the decision already taken by the EU and countries such as Germany, France, Sweden and Japan.

Lammy told MPs on Friday that after reviewing UNRWA’s action plan, the British government is confident that it has “taken steps to ensure that it achieves the highest standards of neutrality”.

“Humanitarian aid is a moral imperative in the face of this disaster, and it is aid agencies that ensure UK support reaches citizens,” he said.

UNRWA was “absolutely fundamental to these efforts” because “no other agency can provide the level of assistance required” and “will be essential to the future reconstruction of the Gaza Strip”, the Labor government justified the decision.

The British diplomatic chief, who visited the conflict zone a few days ago, reiterated his call for an “immediate ceasefire to free the hostages and end the suffering in Gaza”.