Andy Drozdziak
CAFOD is urging the UK Government to reconsider its decision to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and warned that the move ‘could have severe consequences.’
Britain suspended its funding of UNRWA following allegations that staff were involved in the 7th October attacks against Israel. The pause will last at least until the outcome of inquiries into the claims are announced, but CAFOD is warning that the pause ‘will harm vulnerable groups’.
CAFOD’s Head of Middle East Region, Janet Symes, told the Universe: “We were shocked to hear the disturbing allegations against a small number of UNRWA staff. While we acknowledge the need for a thorough and independent investigation which UNRWA initiated immediately, it is crucial to recognise the organisation’s indispensable role in providing essential aid to those in urgent need.
“We urge the UK government to reconsider its decision. As the largest provider of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the UNRWA is crucial for offering urgent help to over 2 million Palestinians. Suspending its funding will harm vulnerable groups, including children, the sick, and the elderly, who depend on UNRWA assistance.”
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell acknowledged that “UNRWA assets are essential to delivering in Gaza”. Foreign Office minister Lord Benyon responded by insisting that UK aid will still reach desperate Palestinians via other charities including the British Red Cross, Unicef, the UN World Food Programme and the Egyptian Red Crescent Society.
However, Janet Symes underlined the need to restore the UNRWA funding. She said: “More than a million displaced people in Gaza rely on UNRWA shelters. The UK Government’s decision to suspend funding when the International Court of Justice has ordered urgent humanitarian measures, is alarming and could have severe consequences.”
On Tuesday, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres met behind closed doors with 35 donor nations and appealed again for a restoration of funding and new donations for the embattled UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters after the meeting that the secretary-general appealed to many countries that suspended funding to UNRWA after the allegations “to reconsider” and urged other countries “including those in the region, to step up to the plate.”
With the United States, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands also pausing funding, Janet Symes called on the UK and other countries to ‘work together.’
She said: “The international community needs to work together to ensure a full humanitarian response and to safeguard the rights and well-being of those affected by conflict and displacement in the region. CAFOD believes an immediate and sustainable ceasefire is the only way to achieve this.”
Picture: Andrew Mitchell PA WIRE Copyright notice: PA Wire/PA Images Picture by:Jeff Overs/BBC