PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Palestinians: Refugees (15 May 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has made to provide humanitarian support for a potential increase in Palestinian refugees across the Middle East as a result of the recent violence in Gaza.

Asked by:
Rosie Duffield (Independent)

We are not aware of an increase in the number of internally displaced persons within Gaza, or an increase in the number of refugees in the region, as a result of the recent violence on the Israel-Gaza border. However, more than 22,500 people remain displaced in Gaza since the 2014 conflict.

The UK is a long term supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) which supports Palestinian refugees across the region, including those displaced in Gaza, through the provision of: basic education to around 500,000 children; health services for around 3 million Palestinian refugees; social assistance for approximately 280,000 of the poorest Palestinian refugees; and a source of income for almost 30,000 refugees working for UNRWA. The UK will deliver its next round of financial support earlier than originally planned to meet the growing needs of Palestinian refugees across the region.

Answered by:
Alistair Burt (Conservative)
22 May 2018