PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
UNRWA: Finance (30 July 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to monitor the likelihood of his Department's funding reaching Hamas through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Asked by:
David Simmonds (Conservative)

The Foreign Secretary noted in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 July 2024, that the UN had taken the allegations that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack seriously. He is reassured after Catherine Colonna's independent review, that UNRWA is ensuring the highest standards of neutrality.

£1 million of the £21 million of new UK funding to UNRWA will support it to implement the management reforms recommended by the review. We continue to monitor UNRWA's implementation. Separately, a Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. The FCDO carries out due diligence assessments and conducts an annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.

Answered by:
Mr Hamish Falconer (Labour)
1 October 2024