To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answered on
11 October 2018
The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and is supporting hospitals and patients through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and addressing critical water and sanitation needs for 2 million people through the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). We are a consistent top-five donor to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which provides basic services to 1.3 million people in Gaza, including basic health care. We are also supporting humanitarian access and enabling reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
In the longer term, the UK will help to address the underlying causes of humanitarian strife in Gaza by focussing on economic development and helping to lift the overall standard of living by increasing trade and job creation, enabling greater movement and access for people and goods and enhancing the supply of electricity and clean water. Ultimately, a political settlement is the only way to ensure lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.