- UK government announces new £60m humanitarian aid package to
support healthcare, food and water.
- Includes vital funding to treat patients at UK-Med field
hospitals in Gaza
- Aid package will help provide emergency food, shelter and
support for over 2 million people
Tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza will receive additional
humanitarian aid funded by the UK government.
In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary outlined that food assistance
programmes, water and sanitation services and maternal and
children's healthcare will be scaled up through this new £60
million funding.
This will include continued support to two field hospitals in
Gaza run by UK-Med. UK-Med are a frontline medical organisation
deployed to crises who have now treated over 500,000 Gazans over
the course of the conflict. 24,000 of these were in the past
fortnight alone, with UK-Med treating a range of medical
conditions as well as injuries related to the
conflict.
This announcement also includes £20 million in support for
UNRWA's essential services for Palestinian refugees. This funding
will provide emergency food, shelter and other support for over 2
million people, as well support UNRWA's wider work across the
region. UNWRA's work in Gaza ensures water
provision reaches up to 600,000 people monthly across
Gaza.
Foreign Secretary said:
UK aid has been saving lives and under the most appalling
circumstances, it is saving lives today.
Today I am announcing extra humanitarian assistance in Gaza to
support tens of thousands of civilians that are urgently in need
this year. This includes supporting UK-Med to sustain the vital
operations they perform right now in Gaza.
The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths –
almost 1000 civilians have been killed since May seeking aid. We
continue to call for, work for, and vote for an immediate
ceasefire and the release of the hostages at every possible
opportunity. We will keep doing so until this war is over.
UK-Med CEO David Wightwick said:
I have never seen a crisis of this scale and severity, and it has
only deteriorated in recent months.
UK Government funding is vital in supporting UK-Med to deliver
over 500,000 patient consultations in Gaza during this conflict.
I want to thank our 400-strong team on the ground for their
determination, professionalism and tireless work to address the
medical needs of Gazans in incredibly difficult circumstances.
This announcement is part of the £101 million of Official
Development Assistance the UK has committed to the OPTs this
financial year. It demonstrates the UK's commitment to playing a
leading role in alleviating Palestinian suffering and building
security, in support of the government's Plan for
Change.
The Foreign Secretary reflected on the dire humanitarian
situation in Gaza in his statement and thanked medics and
humanitarian workers for the work they are doing in the most
difficult and dangerous circumstances.
He said the new aid system in Gaza – which has seen almost 900
people killed since May while seeking food and water – was
creating further disorder for Hamas to exploit.
The Foreign Secretary reiterated his complete condemnation of the
Israeli defence minister's plan for the forcible displacement of
Gaza's entire population into Rafah, with the potential for
deportation.
The UK also announced £7m of support to strengthen governance in
the OPTs, including supporting the Palestinian Authority's
delivery of their reform agenda.
The UK continues to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the
release of all hostages, a surge in aid and a path towards
long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
Background:
· This £60m funding is part
of the UK's £101m programme for the Occupied Palestinian
Territories this year.
· Of this, £7.5m will go to
UK-Med to operate their two field hospitals
· £20m for UNRWA to support
their essential services for Palestinian refugees
· £7m will go to strengthen
governance, accountability and civic space in the OPTs, including
supporting the PA's delivery of their reform agenda.
· Please see the Foreign
Secretary's statement to parliament: Foreign Secretary
statement on the Middle East, 21 July 2025
· Please see the joint
statement on behalf of 26 partners on the OPTs: Occupied
Palestinian Territories: joint statement, 21 July 2025 -
GOV.UK
