UK pledges extra £33.5m to UN agency for Palestinians

The British Government has pledged an additional £33.5 million to the United Nations aid agency that provides healthcare and education to Palestinian refugees.

The announcement was made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with Middle East Minister James Cleverly saying “overcrowded living conditions and years of conflict” left Palestinian refugees “particularly vulnerable” to coronavirus.

This week the Palestinian Authority imposed a five-day lockdown across the West Bank after coronavirus infections more than doubled, rising from 2,636 on Wednesday compared to 1,256 just one week ago.

The UK has consistently been one of the top donors to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which educates more than half a million children and provides medical health services to more than 3.5 million Palestinians.

“The pandemic has made it more difficult for UNRWA to carry out its essential work, yet its staff continue to work tirelessly to provide help to those in need,” said Cleverly.

“I am delighted the UK is providing this new support to UNRWA so it can continue to deliver its vital services, including healthcare and education, to Palestinian refugees.”

The additional £33.5 million brings the UK’s total contribution to UNRWA for 2020 to £34.5 million, and follows a fundraising conference co-hosted by Jordan and Sweden on 23 June, where donors pledged £100 million.