Corbyn: US cuts to UNRWA funding ‘shameful’

Head of the British Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the American decision to end its annual funds to UNRWA.

After the US announced its decision to fully withdraw its support for the UN agency which supports Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, Corbyn tweeted: “Shameful for the US to end its funding for UNRWA, a vital UN refugee agency.”

Shameful for the US to end its funding for UNRWA, a vital UN refugee agency. The UK must help to fill the gap by boosting its contributions.

Support for Palestinian refugees is a vital commitment until there is a just and viable settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict. https://t.co/vHVKjqxmeB

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) September 1, 2018

Corbyn, who has been subject to a Zionist smear campaign because of his support for Palestinians living under Israel’s repressive occupation, called for the UK to step in and fill the void left by the US.

“The UK must help to fill the gap by boosting its contributions,” he continued on Twitter.

He added: “Support for Palestinian refugees is a vital commitment until there is a just and viable settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Read: UNRWA’s crisis ‘political, not financial’

The British government announced in a statement yesterday that it would continue backing the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA).

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said in the statement: “UNRWA is a necessary humanitarian and stabilising force in the region, providing vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees every day.”

“The UK remains a firmly committed supporter of UNRWA, and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, and we will do everything we can to maintain continuity of essential services at this time.”

US decision to cut UNRWA funding – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]