UK Minister Dodds Allocates £19M in Humanitarian Aid for Gaza Amid Regional Trip

UK International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds announced an additional £19 million in humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip during her regional visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, the British Embassy in Israel revealed on Monday. This brings the UK’s total support for Gaza and the West Bank in 2024 to £99 million, benefitting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with critical aid.

The new funding includes £12 million allocated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Program (WFP), aimed at providing food, water, and healthcare. Dodds is also pledging £7 million to UNRWA’s appeal, focusing on delivering shelter, food, and medical assistance as winter conditions exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

“The situation in Gaza is catastrophic,” Dodds emphasized. “Gazans are in desperate need of food and shelter with the onset of winter.” She will discuss additional solutions to the crisis at an international humanitarian conference in Cairo this Wednesday, joining global partners to propose real-world strategies for aiding the region.

The funding will enable the WFP to purchase over 4,465 metric tons of wheat flour, enough to feed more than 451,000 people in Gaza for one month, according to the British Embassy.

Dodds is also set to visit a refugee camp in the West Bank and a community at risk of demolition and settler violence. She reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities, Palestinian Authority reforms, and equitable access to humanitarian aid. “The UK is committed to supporting the region’s most vulnerable communities,” Dodds said, emphasizing continued funding and advocacy for Palestinian reform efforts.

During her visit, Dodds reiterated calls for Israel to facilitate unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and act urgently to establish a ceasefire. “Israel must immediately act to ensure unimpeded aid access to Gaza, bring about a ceasefire, free the hostages, and find a lasting solution to the conflict,” she stated.

Dodds also plans to meet Israeli officials to discuss aid access and long-term conflict resolution. Her itinerary includes meeting the families of UK and UK-linked hostages, reaffirming the UK’s dedication to securing their release.

The UK’s continued support for Gaza underscores the urgency of addressing the region’s humanitarian crisis while working toward broader solutions. The newly pledged funds aim to alleviate immediate suffering while supporting long-term stability and reform.

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