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The UK government has voiced its frustration over significant delays in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, highlighting that a shipment of over 1,100 tents it provided took more than a year to reach the territory. Concerns have also been raised regarding other aid funded by the UK failing to arrive despite the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The foreign secretary has emphasised the critical nature of the situation.
Yvette Cooper described conditions in Gaza as “dire,” especially given warnings from the United Nations that approximately 1.5 million people urgently require shelter. The situation is worsened by heavy rains and rapidly falling temperatures as winter approaches. The BBC has reached out to the Israeli government seeking their response to these delays and the humanitarian concerns.
The tents, designed to accommodate families of up to five people, finally arrived in Gaza on Monday, with additional shipments expected soon. According to government sources, the tents are expected to provide essential shelter for around 12,000 individuals throughout the coming winter months. Cooper stressed the urgency of ensuring that such delays do not occur in the future and called for all border crossings into Gaza to be fully opened to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian aid.
She said, “The situation in Gaza remains dire, with worsening weather conditions compounding the critical issues caused by damaged infrastructure and over two years of conflict.” Cooper also highlighted the desperate circumstances many families face, noting, “Parents have been trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies. These tents will provide a lifeline to thousands of people needing shelter, protecting them from the cold winds and relentless rain turning rubble into mud.” The United Nations reports that nearly 1.9 million people in Gaza, roughly 90% of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023. While Cooper welcomed the arrival of aid, she emphasised that this is only a preliminary step toward the broader reconstruction urgently required, expressing frustration over previous consignments being stuck at borders. She reiterated, “This cannot be allowed to continue,” underlining the necessity for unrestricted humanitarian access, open crossings, and progress towards peace.
Supporting this viewpoint, Jonathan Veitch, Unicef’s Special Representative to the State of Palestine, acknowledged that the arrival of these tents is the result of “months of ongoing work by the international community to push for greater aid access.” He described the situation in Gaza as devastating, with cold weather and heavy rainfall severely impacting families living under very difficult conditions. Veitch added, “Even with the ceasefire, daily life remains incredibly challenging for children in the Gaza Strip,” and noted that the UK-aid supported tents will “provide urgently needed shelter to help families face the harsh winter,” while emphasizing that much more aid is still required
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