§ 25. Mr. QuinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of Palestinian refugees in(a) Gaza, (b) the West Bank and (c) elsewhere in the Middle East, indicating the assistance Her Majesty's Government have given since 1969. [104216]
§ 27. Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Palestinian refugees. [104218]
§ Mr. HainAt the end of 1998 the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were caring for 790,000 refugees registered in the Gaza Strip, 560,000 in the West Bank and 2,220,000 elsewhere in the Middle East.
Through our bilateral contribution to UNRWA and our share of EU funding, we are the largest EU contributor to UNRWA, and the second largest contributor globally (second only to the US), so we make a very significant contribution to alleviating the condition of Palestinian refugees.
The status of Palestinian refugees is also of great importance, and among the main issues to be resolved in negotiations between the countries of the region. The Government have repeatedly made clear their concern for the Palestinian refugees. The Foreign Secretary visited Deir al-Balah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on 25 October, and will tomorrow visit the Beqaa refugee camp in Jordan.