ReliefWeb

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, concluded a mission to London between 12-13 July. The visit aimed to reiterate the importance of the United Kingdom’s support to UNRWA, especially with the growing humanitarian needs of Palestine refugees.

During the visit, Mr Lazzarini met with MENA Director Stephen Hickey at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and briefed several Members of Parliament; he was invited to address members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Palestine. The London visit, furthermore, included meetings with the Palestinian Mission to the UK, as well as representatives from INGOs and civil society organizations. Mr Lazzarini also participated in an exchange at Chatham House and a reception hosted by the Balfour Project and the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU).

“These are extremely challenging times for UNRWA and for Palestine refugees,” said Mr. Lazzarini. “Chronic underfunding puts our operations at risk at a time of heightened vulnerability in most refugee households in the region. The dramatic decrease in support from the UK to UNRWA as part of decreasing its overseas budget has a devastating effect on the Agency. I call on the UK to restore its funding to UNRWA back to previous levels, especially in light of very positive feedback from external validators like the UK’s own British Council, the World Bank, UNHCR, and MOPAN,” he said.

The mission came in the context of a sharp decrease in UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of GNI, which has affected all humanitarian and development partners, including UNRWA. Historically, the UK has been a strong political and financial supporter of UNRWA. Until recently, the UK was consistently amongst the top-five donors providing predictable support through multiyear funding to the Agency’s core budget, as well as consistent support to the UNRWA Emergency Appeals.

Background Information:

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA programme budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s programme budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.7 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tamara Alrifai
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +962 (0)79 090 0140
Email: T.ALRIFAI@UNRWA.ORG