Select Committee · International Development Committee

UK aid for refugee host countries

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Jun 2022 Closed: 20 Oct 2023 6 recommendations 1 conclusion 1 report

Report and Government response published The International Development Committee held an inquiry into UK support for countries which host large numbers of refugees. The inquiry focused on the case studies of Jordan and Lebanon, both of which have hosted large numbers of Palestinian refugees since 1948 and refugees from Syria for more than a decade. …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host countries HC 426 26 May 2023 7 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
1 Conclusion Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host… Accepted

Global Refugee Forum presents key opportunity for international action on refugee issues.

The UN’s Global Refugee Forum is taking place in December 2023. This is a key opportunity for the international community to work towards implementing previously agreed initiatives and pledges and to find solutions to the issues that are holding up progress. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers are currently …

Government response. The government accepts the implied recommendation, agreeing the Global Refugee Forum is a key opportunity. It has used its diplomatic network to gather stakeholders and is considering pledges on education, gender-based violence, climate finance, and domestic resettlement, which it will …
2 Recommendation Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host… Accepted

Use diplomatic relations to develop effective, measurable refugee pledges for Global Refugee Forum.

Before the Forum, the UK Government should use its diplomatic relations with the Forum co-hosts, Republic of Colombia, Japan, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, France, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Uganda, the Swiss Confederation, the UNHCR and other refugee hosting countries to develop effective, measurable pledges for action.

Government response. The government accepts the recommendation, confirming it has used its diplomatic network to bring together stakeholders to identify impactful GRF pledges. It is currently considering pledges related to education, gender-based violence, climate finance, and domestic resettlement, which it will announce …
3 Recommendation Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host… Accepted

Ensure UK fulfils all commitments under the Global Refugee Compact to maintain credibility.

To maintain international credibility on refugee issues, the UK Government should ensure that the UK has fulfilled its commitments under the Global Refugee Compact.

Government response. The government agrees it should fulfil its commitments under the Global Refugee Compact and states it is already doing so, providing publicly available data and responding to OECD surveys that enable UNHCR to monitor its progress.
4 Recommendation Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host… Accepted

Advocate for vulnerability-based assistance and trauma-sensitive approaches in all future refugee responses.

The UK Government has adopted an approach in Jordan and Lebanon that incorporates the needs of the host community in its refugee response programming. It should use the Global Refugee Forum to advocate humanitarian response plans that distribute assistance according to vulnerability rather than someone’s immigration status. It must ensure …

Government response. The government agrees to use the Global Refugee Forum to advocate for humanitarian response plans that distribute assistance based on vulnerability, not immigration status. It also confirms its Humanitarian Framework already prioritises needs-based assistance and incorporates trauma-sensitive approaches, citing its …
7 Recommendation Eighth Report - UK aid for refugee host… Accepted

Make facilitating safe and dignified refugee return a strategic UK foreign policy objective

UNHCR surveys of refugee intentions indicate that most refugees wish to return to their country of origin, when it is safe to do so. Displacement crises will only be solved once communities have a safe and dignified route to return. Facilitating such routes must be strategic objectives of not only …

Government response. The government agrees that facilitating safe and dignified returns for refugees must be a strategic objective of both UK development and foreign policy. It confirms it is already working to achieve this through ODA spend, diplomatic efforts, and engagement with …

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 Jan 2023 H.E Rami Mortada · Embassy of Lebanon in the United Kingdom, Hoda Samra Souaiby · UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Lebanon, Najat El Hamri · MAG (Mines Advisory Group), Suzanne Takkenberg · Action Against Hunger Lebanon View ↗
15 Nov 2022 Amy Schmidt · Norwegian Refugee Council Jordan, Dominik Bartsch · United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), H.E. Manar Dabbas · Kingdom of Jordan, Sabine Abi Aad · ActionAid Arab Region View ↗