- UK announces new life-saving support for pregnant women and
new mothers, and menstrual hygiene kits for thousands of women
and girls
- Foreign Secretary calls for a full resumption of aid into
Gaza, as women and girls risk pregnancy complications and
disease
- It comes amid ‘catastrophic' humanitarian crisis in Gaza,
with ‘women and girls bearing the brunt of the suffering'
Against a backdrop of an appalling humanitarian crisis, the UK
has pledged vital funding to deploy midwives and deliver
emergency medical supplies for new mothers in Gaza. The aid could
reach thousands—but only if Israel allows a substantial increase
in vital humanitarian access.
The announcement comes after the Famine Review Committee
confirmed famine in parts of Gaza.
The UK reiterates that the Israeli government's refusal to allow
sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe and
urges it to take action to improve the situation
immediately.
The Foreign Secretary said:
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with
famine in Gaza City and women and girls bearing the brunt of the
suffering. The UK is doing all we can to improve the situation
but we remain crystal clear: for aid to have impact, Israel must
ensure it is allowed in and delivered safely and securely to
civilians in desperate need.
“Gaza's healthcare system has been decimated. With ongoing
strikes on healthcare centres and most hospitals no longer
functioning at all, pregnant women will be extremely anxious
about giving birth safely.
“That's why we're announcing this support today as part of
our sustained humanitarian assistance to the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“This new funding will help improve midwifery provisions and make
giving birth safer. It is critical to improving the situation for
mothers and their new-born babies.
“But this funding can only have maximum impact if the Government
of Israel allows it. Israel must ensure protection of civilians
including healthcare staff and health infrastructure, and enable
the delivery of life saving medicines, medical equipment and
healthcare supplies into Gaza.
“We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a
surge in aid and a framework to deliver long-term
peace.”
UK funding is set to support some of the 130 women who give birth
every day against the backdrop of conflict in Gaza. This £3m
funding, delivered through the UN's sexual and reproductive
health agency (UNFPA) is supporting midwives to provide essential
lifesaving care for mothers and newborn babies in conflicts and
crises.
UNFPA is providing life-saving reproductive health supplies for
women and girls in Gaza. Since the conflict began, UNFPA has
reached over one million people with sexual and productive health
services and gender-based violence prevention and response
support.
It has also ensured that over 150,000 women and girls have been
able to purchase essential menstrual and hygiene items to meet
their basic needs.
Laila Baker, UNFPA Arab States Regional Director
said:
“Women and girls are enduring increasingly horrific conditions in
Gaza – with widespread malnutrition and disease putting the lives
of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their babies at
particular risk.
“This vital contribution from the United Kingdom will
support UNFPA in providing lifesaving medicines, deploying mobile
maternity units, and supporting midwives across the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
“With one in five babies in Gaza born prematurely or underweight,
and maternal and neonatal services collapsing from fuel and
supply shortages, UNFPA also reiterates its urgent call for
unimpeded, sustained and demilitarized humanitarian aid
into the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The FCDO is also working with Oxfam GB to distribute Reemi's zero
waste menstrual hygiene products that are suitable for women and
girls with limited access to clean water. In incredibly difficult
circumstances, Oxfam and local partners distributed over 5,000
Reemi kits in Northern Gaza in early 2025.
Background
-
The UK is committed to supporting humanitarian efforts in
Gaza and has announced £60m in humanitarian funding for the
Occupied Palestinian Territories so far, this financial
year.
-
Earlier this month the UK government announced additional funding for UN
agency UNOCHA's pooled fund, to help deliver food, water
and fuel to areas most in need and called
on Israel to allow safe and large-scale access for the
UN, its agencies and humanitarian partners to deliver aid
on the ground.
-
This support from the UK government builds on its previous
support for UNFPA's humanitarian response in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including for reproductive health
kits, mobile health teams, and services for
gender-based-violence survivors.
-
UK support has helped UNFPA and its partners reach tens of
thousands of women and girls with vital health and protection
services.
