Full Breakdown
UK Announces £88 million Humanitarian Package for Gaza and Calls for Unrestricted Aid Access
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Announcement
The United Kingdom unveiled an £88 million humanitarian package to deliver health care, clean water, sanitation, waste management and protection services to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The funding will support medical consultations for up to 900,000 people, rehabilitation and prosthetic treatment for 1,000 children with blast injuries, solid-waste management for 900,000 people, emergency water trucking for 150,000 people and mental-health and psychosocial support for 21,000 people. The package was announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Background & Context
The initiative follows the United Kingdom’s recent “reset” of its Israel-Palestine policy and aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorses a Comprehensive Plan for immediate humanitarian assistance. Since the cease-fire that began in October 2023, Gaza’s health sector has been described as “decimated,” with severe fuel shortages and intermittent medical supplies. At least 43,000 people face life-changing disabilities without specialised care, and over 1,700 health workers have been killed.
Data & Statistics
- £88 million for health, water, sanitation and protection.
- Medical consultations: up to 900,000 people.
- Child rehabilitation: prosthetic treatment for 1,000 children.
- Solid-waste services: for up to 900,000 people.
- Emergency water: trucking for 150,000 people.
- Mental-health support: for 21,000 people.
- Cumulative UK aid since October 2023: food assistance to more than 1.4 million people; water, sanitation and hygiene services for over 830,000 people.
- Health-sector damage: at least 920 attacks on facilities and staff; 1,700 health workers killed.
- Casualties in Gaza: more than 73,900 people killed since the war began, including 1,399 since the cease-fire (Al Jazeera).
Official Statements & Responses
- President Emmanuel Macron called the suffering in Gaza a “shame for all of us” and criticized Israel’s daily “violations” in the occupied West Bank.
- Prime Minister Mike Carney announced Canadian aid of 100 million Canadian dollars (? 71 million USD), with most earmarked for direct humanitarian assistance and a portion for peace-building, including training Palestinian police.
International Call to Action at UNGA
The United Kingdom co-hosted a senior-minister meeting with Jordan and Qatar at the UNGA, bringing together regional partners, the United Nations, civil-society groups, Palestinian representatives and international donors. The joint declaration, endorsed by Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UK, called on Israel to:
- Allow rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access through all crossings and land routes.
- Expand crossing capacity, operating hours and remove arbitrary quotas.
- Approve “dual-use” items such as shelter, fuel, water and health supplies via the UN 2720 mechanism.
- Protect health-care workers, facilities and medical transport in line with International Humanitarian Law and UN Security Council Resolution 2286.
- Facilitate the full operation of the Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridors.
What’s Next
Implementation of the £88 million package will be coordinated with the United Nations, the Red Crescent Movement and other impartial humanitarian organizations. The UK has pledged additional winterisation support for shelter, water, sanitation and health supplies as the region approaches winter. Diplomatic pressure continues to seek Israel’s compliance with UN 2803 and to expand humanitarian corridors, while the international community prepares to discuss longer-term recovery and a two-state solution in upcoming UNGA sessions.