International Development Minister will pledge new UK aid and
meet key Jordanian Ministers in her first official visit to the
Middle East.
As tensions rise between Israel and Lebanon, the minister will
call for calm in the wider Middle East, and continue diplomatic
efforts made by the Foreign and Defence Secretaries in Qatar,
Lebanon and Israel last week to lead a renewed push for peace.
She will also repeat calls for British Nationals to leave Lebanon
now, due to rising risks associated with the ongoing conflict
between Israel, Lebanese Hizballah and other non-state actors in
Lebanon.
Amid the threat of growing instability in the wider region,
Gazans continue to face a devastating humanitarian crisis.
During her visit to Jordan, the minister will announce £6
million in funding for UNICEF's work to support vulnerable
families in Gaza.
The £6 million package will help tens of thousands of Gazans
access food and water, as well as health, education and wellbeing
services.
She will also visit a World Food Programme depot, which plays a
key role in the delivery of aid to Gaza.
Development Minister said:
Now is the time for calm, if we are to achieve lasting peace and
stability in the Middle East. It is in no-one's interests for
tensions to escalate and spread across the wider
region.
We are seeing the humanitarian impact of conflict on Gazans.
This new UK support will provide a lifeline for vulnerable
families, giving them access to basic food and water during a
desperate time. I am grateful to the Jordanian Government for
supporting UK efforts to get aid to those in such desperate
need.
But this appalling situation cannot continue. We must see an
immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unfettered
access to lifesaving aid for those in Gaza.
UK funding will support the vaccination and immunisation of
over 20,000 children, provide over 8,000 school-aged children
with recreational activities to boost their wellbeing and
help over 55,000 people in Gaza access clean water and
sanitation.
During her visit, the minister will also meet key charity
partners, including the World Food Programme to hear about the
humanitarian situation in Gaza and Jordan.
Separately, the UK is also announcing today it is allocating £14
million to support Syrian refugees currently living in the
Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan-Syria border. The funding will
be delivered in September this year, with £7 million going to
UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – and the same amount to the World
Food Programme. Jordan is currently home to over 3 million
refugees, many of them from neighbouring Syria.
During her visit the minister will meet Jordanian Minister of
Finance, Mohamad Al Ississ, and the foreign ministry's
Secretary General, Majid Al-Qatarneh to discuss Jordan's
successful economic performance in a challenging geopolitical
environment. The Ministers will agree steps for the UK and Jordan
to accelerate efforts to boost their economic prosperity, as well
as find ways of building resilience to the climate
crisis.
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Notes to editors:
British nationals should not travel to Lebanon and those who are
already there should leave Lebanon while commercial flights are
still available. British nationals are advised to follow Foreign
Office Travel Advice Lebanon
travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
