Gaza: Medical aid and shelter for those caught in conflict

11 December 2012

International Development Minister Alan Duncan announced new UK medical aid and shelter for thousands affected by the conflict in Gaza.

New British support will provide medical aid, temporary shelter and help with rebuilding damaged homes for around 85,000 people affected by the recent violence in Gaza, International Development Minister Alan Duncan announced today.

Mr Duncan promised £1.25 million in new support as he became the first British minister to visit Gaza since the ceasefire entered into force on 21 November.

Speaking during his visit, Alan Duncan said:

"Ordinary people in Gaza and in Israel have had their lives turned upside down by the recent conflict. We were deeply saddened by the lives lost on both sides. While the violence continued, existing UK funding helped trusted partners such as UNRWA and the World Food Programme provide health and education services and distribute food in the face of incredibly challenging conditions. This new funding will help meet the most immediate needs of those injured, made homeless or otherwise affected by the conflict.

"We welcome the ongoing talks in Cairo. We urge all parties to take this important opportunity to resolve the fundamental problems of Gaza. This means tackling weapons smuggling and the illicit tunnel economy into Gaza. It also means lifting the Israeli restrictions on movement of goods and people which, as I have seen again on this visit, make the economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza unsustainable."

The funding announced today will be channelled through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and among other vital activities will help the ICRC to:

provide medical support to eight hospitals serving 1.6 million people;
deliver eight trucks of medicines to treat 2,000 wounded and other emergency cases;
provide shelter kits including blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene kits for up to 3,000 people and tents, jerry cans and cooking stoves for those made homeless;
distribute material for repairs to nearly 5,000 damaged houses;
facilitate the delivery of hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel to Gaza's power station to ensure continuing electricity and to Shawa Hospital in the north of Gaza; and
make emergency repairs to the Gaza water authority's bomb-damaged infrastructure.

Read the full press release.