To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency has received sufficient funding for their work in Gaza. [HL1537]

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continues to experience funding shortfalls for both its core programme, which provides education, health and social services to refugees in the region, and its emergency programme, which addresses immediate humanitarian needs. UNRWA’s projected deficit for the current year for its core programme is $54 million, of which $18 million is attributable to Gaza. To date UNRWA has received only limited donations to its recently launched 2010 Gaza emergency appeal.

When our share of EU finding is included, the UK is UNRWA’s second largest bilateral donor. In 2009 we provided £31 million in funding to UNRWA; £20 million in core funding, £6 million to the 2009 Gaza emergency appeal and £5 million specifically to improve education services in Gaza. In 2010, we intend to provide £22 million in core funding.