UK’s New Labor Government to Resume Funding to UNRWA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Britain's new Labor government said on Friday it would resume funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and called on the Israeli regime to allow more aid to enter Gaza.
Britain was one of several countries to halt their funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) following accusations by Israel that some agency staff were involved in the October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
British foreign minister David Lammy told parliament he was reassured that the agency, which provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians, had taken steps to "ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality" and the government would now provide 21 million pounds ($27.1 million) in new funding, Reuters reported.
Lammy said malnutrition in Gaza was now so severe that mothers could not produce breast milk for their children and the rates of diarrhea were 40 times their normal rates and polio had been detected.
"Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe, and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground," he said.
"UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can deliver aid at the scale needed."
Other countries including Japan, Germany, Italy, Australia and Canada have resumed funding to the agency.