The UK has provided food for 275,000 people in Gaza as Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron called for “sustained humanitarian access” to the territory’s besieged population.
More than 2,000 tonnes of food aid distributed by the UK has crossed the border and will be distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP).
It comes as a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a partnership of more than a dozen governments, UN aid and other agencies that determines the severity of food crises, warned “famine is imminent” in Gaza.
Lord Cameron urged Israel to allow more aid into the war-torn territory.
“It’s crucial that we keep the flow of aid moving into Gaza to end the suffering, and that’s why this latest delivery of aid by WFP is so vitally important,” he said.
“The IPC’s report warns of imminent famine. We need sustained humanitarian access by road to get more aid in.
“We continue to push Israel to allow more crossings to open and for longer, and for healthcare, water and sanitation to be restored.”
The foreign secretary wants Israel to increase capacity to safely distribute aid within Gaza, such as by opening a land crossing in the north and issuing more visas to UN staff to deliver supplies.
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Pic: PA
What does the delivery contain?
The latest UK-funded delivery was facilitated by Jordan, which has played a key role in supporting the UK’s humanitarian response to the crisis.
The delivery includes fortified wheat flour for use in bakeries and food parcels which will be used to feed more than 275,000 people.
Each food parcel is designed for a family of five and consists of canned vegetables, meat and fish, and date bars.
The parcel can supply half of the daily calorie needs of a family for 15 days.
It follows 150 tonnes of UK-funded relief items including blankets and tents, as well as a full field hospital run by UK-Med which is now operational and providing life-saving care.
