UK blasts Gaza bottleneck as British tents arrive a year late

 

 

The UK government has delivered a sharp rebuke over crippling delays to humanitarian aid entering Gaza, after a shipment of 1,100 UK-funded tents — enough to shelter more than 12,000 people — took over a year to reach the devastated enclave. The long-delayed arrival comes despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and repeated appeals for unrestricted access.

 

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that the situation in Gaza remains “dire,” with winter rains, collapsing infrastructure and mass displacement combining into a humanitarian emergency. She said too much UK-supplied aid had been stuck at border crossings for months, calling the tent delivery a welcome step but “nowhere near enough” to meet the scale of suffering inside the strip.

 

“Parents have been trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies,” Cooper said. “These tents will provide a lifeline — but delays like this cannot be allowed to continue.” She urged Israel to open all crossings to allow unhindered humanitarian access, telling officials the UK expects its aid to reach civilians without obstruction.

 

The UN estimates 1.9 million Gazans — nearly 90% of the population — have been displaced since the war erupted in 2023. With temperatures falling and heavy rains turning rubble into mud, UN agencies warn that 1.5 million people urgently need shelter.

 

Government sources say additional UK-funded tents are due to arrive in the coming days, but frustration has mounted in London after repeated consignments were stalled at the border earlier this year. Cooper said major reconstruction is “badly needed” and urged both sides to press ahead with the peace plan.

 

Unicef’s Jonathan Veitch said the tent delivery reflected months of pressure from the international community. “The situation is devastating,” he said. “Even with the ceasefire, daily life remains incredibly challenging for children in Gaza. Much more is needed.”

 

 

Key Takeaways

• UK slams aid delays after British tents sent in 2023 only entered Gaza this week.
• 1.9 million people displaced as winter weather worsens conditions in the shattered strip.
• Cooper urges Israel to open all crossings, calling delays “unacceptable” and demanding unhindered humanitarian access.

 

Source: BBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Israel are beyond the pale these days. Heartless.