UK removes funding block on UN agency helping Palestinian refugees

The UK government has lifted the funding suspension for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and pledged £21 million in new funds. This decision comes after international donors cut off funding in January due to allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in a Hamas attack. Despite initial hesitancy, the UK foreign minister David Lammy reassured parliament that UNRWA is committed to neutrality and reforms.

UNRWA plays a crucial role in distributing aid in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. The UK’s decision to resume funding has been praised by humanitarian organizations like Human Rights Watch. Lammy also called for an immediate ceasefire in the region and emphasized the need for more aid to enter Gaza.

The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October, has resulted in a significant loss of civilian lives on both sides. The situation in Gaza remains dire, and humanitarian agencies like UNRWA are working tirelessly to provide aid to those in need.