UK criticises Gaza aid delays as government ministers express growing frustration over the slow movement of humanitarian assistance into the region. British officials revealed this week that a shipment containing more than eleven hundred emergency tents took over a full year to reach Gaza, despite the urgent need for shelter among displaced families. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the situation remains extremely dire and that many people are still struggling to obtain basics such as safe shelter, especially as winter approaches. She warned that even with a ceasefire in place between Israel and Hamas, significant amounts of UK funded aid are still unable to reach those who need it most. Cooper said the United Nations has reported that nearly one and a half million people in Gaza are now in desperate need of safe living spaces as cold weather sets in. Heavy rains and falling temperatures have worsened the already catastrophic conditions across the region. The tents sent by the UK, each designed to house a family of five, finally reached Gaza on Monday. More shipments are expected to arrive in the coming days.
UK Criticises Gaza Aid Delays Following Long Lag in Tent Shipment
Government sources explained that the tents will offer immediate relief to up to twelve thousand people during the winter months. Cooper emphasised that the long delay highlights a wider issue with humanitarian access and warned that such obstructions cannot be allowed to continue. She called for all entry points into Gaza to be opened so that aid can move freely. According to Cooper, many parents have been forced to seek shelter for their children under shattered roofs or in exposed open areas. She said the arrival of the new tents will offer thousands of vulnerable families protection from freezing winds and constant rainfall that continues to flood damaged streets and crumbling neighbourhoods. The United Nations estimates that nearly one point nine million residents of Gaza have been displaced since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October twenty twenty three. This represents close to ninety percent of the entire population. Cooper said that while the arrival of the UK shipment is encouraging, it is only a small part of a much larger effort that must continue if the region is to recover.
She expressed disappointment that another shipment of UK assistance had been stuck at a border crossing earlier in the year, describing the situation as unacceptable. The foreign secretary stressed that consistent aid access is vital for both immediate relief and long term reconstruction. Cooper reaffirmed that the UK will continue to support calls for a comprehensive peace plan and for all border crossings to be opened. She argued that without full humanitarian access, there can be no sustainable progress. Jonathan Veitch, Unicef Special Representative to the State of Palestine, said the delivery of the tents reflects months of pressure from the international community to expand access for aid groups. He noted that even with the ceasefire, life in Gaza remains extremely difficult, particularly for children. Veitch said that while the newly arrived UK tents will provide essential shelter for many families, the overall need in Gaza remains vast and much more support is required.
source:BBC
