UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the country would restore funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, after payments were paused amid Israeli allegations about some UNRWA staff.
Mr Lammy said on Friday that a plan for reconstruction must be ready immediately for a ceasefire in the enclave and that UNRWA was vital for rebuilding efforts. The UK will provide £21 million ($27.1 million) in new funding to the agency.
"UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts, no other agency can operate at the scale needed. It's already feeding over half of Gaza's population," he said. "It will be vital for future reconstruction and it provides critical services to Palestinian refugees in the region."
The UN agency, led by Philippe Lazzarini, suffered a donor crisis when Israel lodged complaints that some staff had ties to Hamas, a move that provoked global concerns after the attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war.
"I was appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks. But the UN took these allegations seriously," said Mr Lammy.
"I've spoken to UN Secretary General [Antonio] Guterres and commissioner Lazzarini. We are reassured that after Catherine Colonna's independent review, UNRWA is ensuring they meet the highest standards of neutrality and strengthening its procedures including on vetting.
"UNRWA has acted. Partners like Japan, the European Union and Norway have also now acted. This government will act, too. I can confirm to the House [Parliament] that we are overturning the suspension of UNRWA funding."
The new funds are not only for the delivery of aid, but also to reinforce the reforms agenda pursued by Mr Lazzarini.
"Britain will provide £21 million in new funds, some directed at supporting the management reforms recommended by the Colonna review, and UNRWA supports more than five and a half million Palestinians, almost 200 of their staff have died through this conflict. I thank them for this life saving work."
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary said Israel had imposed impossible and unacceptable restrictions on aid into Gaza. "Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such catastrophe and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground," Mr Lammy added.
Pointing to the volume of aid crossing the border into Gaza as the conflict has raged in defiance of ceasefire talks, he said the entry of 70 lorries a day was nowhere near enough. "Britain wants to see an immediate ceasefire," he added.
"The fighting must stop. The hostages must be released. Much, much more aid has got to enter Gaza. This horror must end, now.
"We were told in April that they would flood Gaza with aid – 70 is no way near enough."
The level of disease in the besieged enclave sent a warning to the world that the Gaza death toll would increase, he said, particularly with reports of an outbreak of polio and cases of diarrhoea at "40 times" normal levels. "Polio [is] setting in Gaza, it is horrific and troubles us all deeply," Mr Lammy added.
A UK government breakdown of the package of support for UNRWA showed:
· The UK will provide £6 million to the Gaza flash appeal, through which UNRWA is specifically focused on addressing the most urgent needs of more than three million people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
· A further £15 million with be disbursed to UNRWA’s programme budget to provide basic services in Palestine and the wider region.
Last week, the UK signed a joint statement alongside more than 117 member states, including the US, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia, making clear their shared commitment and support to the “vital and indispensable role” of UNRWA in providing life-saving aid to Palestinian refugees.
The UK Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran urged Mr Lammy to “pull the lever that would best signify” the country's commitment to the two-state solution, by announcing the recognition of a Palestinian state.
“And there is only one viable answer to that, and that is the two-state solution," she said.
"That is our North Star, it is the keystone to stability in the region as well, but I have to express disappointment that the Foreign Secretary refuses to pull the lever that would best signify our commitment to it, which is to recognise the Palestinian state on 1967 borders. Ireland, Spain and Norway did it this May. Will he consider it, and if he won’t, why not?”
In his reply, Mr Lammy said such a move was in Labour's sights. “There is no confusion on this party’s position on Palestinian recognition," he said. "We are committed to Palestinian recognition. We hope to work with partners to achieve that when the circumstances are right.”
Mr Lammy added that ending the conflict in Gaza means Hamas is removed from positions of control, but added that Israel must not oversee the enclave either. "[Israel's army] must not be situated in Gaza, there has to be a new paradigm," he said. "It will evolve. I suspect our partners and others can give the security guarantees to Israel. It's a complicated picture. We have to work at pace at what becomes afterwards."
Campaigners said the government should strength its commitment to UNRWA with guarantees and pushed Mr Lammy to take a stronger stand on Israel's compliance with international laws.
"This announcement should be supported by multi-year commitments to fund UNRWA, alongside renewed political support for its mandate," a spokeswoman for Bond International said. "Humanitarian funding should not be used as a sticking plaster to circumvent international responsibilities.
"We also welcome the new UK government’s assessment of the government of Israel’s compliance with international law and look forward to the publishing of this assessment."
Chris Doyle, of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, called for a push to ensure Israel takes responsibility for the agency's losses in the conflict. "The government must also hold Israel accountable for its role in the killing of 197 UNRWA staff in Gaza since 7 October, 2023," he said. "This is the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict."
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
