Seema Malhotra, the Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, has written to the Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell MP about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s decision to continue withdrawing funds from the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA).

The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Andrew,

I am writing to follow up on my question in the Chamber on 15th April, and the urgent need to resume funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees.

I have seen the vital work of UNRWA first hand on visits to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the provision of homes, schools, aid and services. Constituents with family members in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as many others concerned about the ongoing fighting and instability, have raised with me the need for Britain to reinstate funding and for the international community to work together to support UNRWA.

This goes alongside the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted flow of desperately needed aid into Gaza.

I am sure that you agree that we need to see a political solution for the long term in the Middle East, for a sustainable peace and the ongoing security of both Israel and Palestine.

UNRWA is arguably the biggest multilateral tool to support this political solution, and it is unmatched in its administrative ability to deliver aid and services.

The independent Colonna review has now found that Israel had not provided evidence to support its claims that UNRWA staff were linked to terrorism. Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Japan, and Denmark have all restored funding to UNRWA.

I would be grateful if you could update me on the Government’s current position on the reinstatement of funding to UNRWA, in light of the Colonna report’s findings and the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Yours sincerely,

Seema Malhotra MP

Member of Parliament for Feltham & Heston