Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the UNHCR fails to protect Christians from discrimination in the refugee camps set up to help those fleeing Syria.
Answered by Baroness Verma
DFID continues to work with the UN and the international community to ensure all minorities’ rights are protected and our aid reaches those in greatest need. UNHCR have informed us that they are not aware of any discrimination in any of the camps that fall under their responsibility. UNHCR monitors camps and have given assurance that if there were reports of discrimination they would look into these matters closely.
All UK funded assistance is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity.