By Manal Abdel Fattah
The British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: “The UK is committed to alleviating the suffering of people in Gaza. We have already trebled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and the Prime Minister and I urged Israel at the highest levels to open Kerem Shalom in order to get significantly more aid into Gaza”.
He added: “We need to use as many routes as possible to achieve this goal. We have supported Jordan to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza and continue to call for significantly more aid to be allowed into Gaza through Kerem Shalom”.
He continued: “I am delighted to appoint Mark Bryson-Richardson as the UK’s Humanitarian Representative. He is a highly skilled diplomat official with extensive experience working in the region and will drive forward this vital work.”
The British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in the Middle East this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and for further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
In talks with leaders in Jordan and Egypt, key neighbouring countries, he is progressing efforts to secure the release of all hostages and step up aid to Gaza.
In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Safadi and visited the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation, which has become the focal point of Jordanian humanitarian support for Gaza.
In Egypt, Cameron met with President Sisi and Foreign Minister Shoukry, where he thanked them for their partnership and Egypt’s cooperation, which has been vital to facilitating humanitarian access to Gaza.
He saw first-hand the impact of UK aid on a visit to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border today, as the UK calls for significant more aid to reach Gaza, through as many routes as possible.
There, Cameron met with representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent, who are coordinating the relief effort at the Rafah crossing, and heard how the UK’s contributions of shelter, blankets and other vital equipment has been providing much needed relief to the people of Gaza.
Together with international partners, the UK is increasing efforts to get greater humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UK will support United Nations World Food Programme to further enhance the new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan through Kerem Shalom.
The first direct World Food Programme aid convoy, made up of 46 trucks, travelled from Jordan to Gaza yesterday carrying over 750 tonnes of food aid. A £2 million contribution from the UK will help to get further emergency food assistance to those who need it most.
The UK continues to urge Israel to increase the flow of aid into Gaza through Kerem Shalom and are exploring other routes to increase aid reaching Gaza, including maritime options.
