Britain to provide £3.2m aid package for Gaza civilians

The Government has said it will provide a £3.2 million aid package for civilians under attack in Gaza.

Britain will be contributing to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funds which are being collected to provide food, water and emergency shelter for Palestinians affected by the violence, Minister for the Middle East James Cleverly announced on Thursday.

This came after UNRWA launched an emergency appeal calling for extra support.

High levels of poverty are also rampant in Gaza and this is expected to increase from affecting 53% of the population this year to 64%.

Coronavirus is also spreading in the region while two million Palestinians have been living under severe movement restrictions.

Existing UK aid to UNRWA is also helping to provide food supplies to more than one million refugees in Gaza this year.

Mr Cleverly has said the international community has been “shocked” by the violence in Israel and Palestine.

He said: “Today’s UK support will help UNRWA deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to those that need it most.

“The escalation of violence and loss of life in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories has shocked all of us.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has spoken recently with the Israeli Foreign Minister and Palestinian Prime Minister.

On Thursday night, Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire.