Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to support the UN Relief and Works Agency to provide aid and services to Palestinian refugees following the announcement by the US Administration of a reduction in its contribution to that agency.

The UK remains firmly committed to supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. We will provide around £50 million in 2017/18 to assist UNRWA in their provision of basic education to around 500,000 children and health services for around 3 million Palestinian refugees as well as supporting Palestinian refugees from Syria with cash and in-kind food assistance. We are concerned at the impact on UNRWA’s activities whenever unexpected reductions or delays in predicted donor disbursements occur. My officials are working closely with UNRWA and other European Union partners on how best to ensure continuity of essential services to Palestinian refugees at this time.