UK Urges Israel to Ensure UNRWA’s Lifesaving Operations Continue
28 January 2025, 17:09
New York: The United Kingdom has called on Israel to ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) can continue its “lifesaving” operations.
Speaking at the UN Security Council, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Jonathan Allen, said: “The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
“UNRWA provides essential services to millions of vulnerable Palestinian refugees, including food, healthcare, education, and shelter,” he added. “These services are a lifeline for many and must be allowed to continue.”
Allen’s statement came in response to reports that Israel was considering freezing funding to UNRWA over alleged bias against Israel in the agency’s education materials.
“We urge Israel to reconsider its position and to ensure that UNRWA is able to continue its vital work,” Allen said. “The humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is already dire, and any further cuts to essential services would only worsen the suffering of ordinary Palestinians.”
UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The agency currently provides services to over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.
In recent years, UNRWA has faced increasing financial challenges, with several major donors, including the United States, reducing their funding. The agency has been forced to cut back on its services, including the closure of schools and health clinics.
The UK is one of the largest donors to UNRWA, providing around £35 million per year. Allen reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting the agency and urged other donors to do the same.
“UNRWA’s work is vital for the stability of the region and for the well-being of millions of vulnerable Palestinians,” Allen said. “We urge all parties to work together to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations.”
The UK urges Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations: UK statement at the UN Security Council
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