DFID’s support for Palestine refugees through UNRWA

DFID is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) fourth-largest donor, contributing £173 million in the period 2008-12. This review assessed the impact that DFID’s support has had on Palestine refugees and the effectiveness of DFID’s engagement with UNRWA.

Score: Green/Amber
  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 13 September 2013
  3. Type: Other
  4. Subject: Fragile states, Humanitarian assistance
  5. Assessment: Green/Amber
  6. Location: Jordan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories
  7. Lead commissioner: Mark Foster

Summary

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established in response to the refugee crisis caused by the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. UNRWA was mandated to provide humanitarian relief and employment for Palestine refugees. Today, UNRWA provides support to 4.9 million refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is UNRWA’s fourth largest donor, contributing £173.2 million in the period 2008-12. This review assesses the impact that DFID’s support has on Palestine refugees and the effectiveness of DFID’s engagement with UNRWA. The review focusses on UNRWA’s provision of health, education and social support to refugees in all locations, except Syria.

We awarded a green-score and made three recommendations.

Timeline

Review publication

Published 13 September 2013

Government response

Published 16 October 2013

ICAI follow-up

Published 18 June 2015