The British government has criticized delays in aid entering Gaza, after it took more than a year to deliver more than 1,100 tents to the strip.
The Foreign Secretary is also concerned that other UK-funded aid is not reaching residents despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Yvette Cooper said the situation in Gaza remained “grave”, with the United Nations warning that 1.5 million people would need emergency shelters as rainfall increases and temperatures plummet ahead of winter.
The Israeli government said it was upholding aid delivery agreements and had “facilitated the transfer of nearly 250,000 tents and tarps to Gaza” in recent months.
British-funded tents – each capable of housing a family of five – arrived in Gaza on Monday, with more expected to arrive this week.
Government sources said the tents would provide shelter for up to 12,000 people during the winter.
Cooper said delays in aid entering the region cannot be allowed to continue and all crossings into the region should be open to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
She said: “The situation in Gaza remains critical, with deteriorating weather conditions exacerbating critical problems caused by damaged infrastructure and more than two years of conflict.
“Parents have been trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies.
“These tents will provide a lifeline to thousands of people in need of shelter, protecting them from the freezing winds and relentless rain that turns rubble into mud.”
According to the United Nations, approximately 1.9 million people (nearly 90% of the population) in Gaza have been displaced since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out in October 2023.
Cooper said the arrival of the aid was welcome but was only a step towards “much needed” major reconstruction and she was frustrated by “another batch of aid being held up at the border” earlier this year.
“This cannot be allowed to continue,” she said.
“The arrival of these tents demonstrates the scale of the potential impact of our aid when it arrives, and we will continue to do everything we can to urge unhindered humanitarian access, open all crossings, implement peace plans and create a path to peace.”
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s special representative in the State of Palestine, said the arrival of the tents “represents months of ongoing work by the international community to push for more aid.”
“The situation in Gaza is devastating, with cold and heavy rain continuing to affect families living in extremely difficult conditions.
“Even with the ceasefire, daily life for children in the Gaza Strip remains challenging.
“UK aid-supported tents are now in Gaza and will provide much-needed shelter to help families cope with the harsh winter. More needs to be done.”
Kogat, the Israeli defense agency that controls Gaza crossings, said in a statement: “Contrary to these claims, we stress that Israel is committed to and fully implements its obligations under the agreement to divert humanitarian aid trucks.
“Within this framework, hundreds of trucks enter every day, delivering food, water, fuel, gas, medicine, medical equipment, tents and shelter equipment.
“This is being done in close and ongoing coordination with the United Nations, international organizations, donor countries and the private sector.”
It added that over the past three months, Cogat had “approved 100,000 pallet requests for winter-related items, shelter equipment and hygiene supplies submitted by organizations”.
“These supplies are ready and will need to wait weeks for immediate coordination from the relevant organizations so that they can enter Gaza.
“Coordination depends on international organizations and Cogat is committed to facilitating the coordination process.”
[BBC]
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