Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help secure the entry of fundamental emergency shelter materials, medical supplies and reconstruction equipment into Gaza.

We remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the needs of displaced people ahead of winter. Recent United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports indicate that available supplies could partially assist only 18 per cent of the families requiring shelter assistance for the rainy season. In September, alongside Jordan and Qatar, the Foreign Secretary and I co-hosted a meeting of senior government ministers at the UN General Assembly focused on improving humanitarian access and healthcare in Gaza. Following the meeting, the UK and international partners issued a Call to Action urging the Government of Israel to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. We also called on the Government of Israel to approve additional critical items including the ones considered "dual use" items, in particular related to shelter, fuel, water, sanitation, health supplies to prevent further deterioration of public health. The UK is providing £88 million in humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestinians this financial year.

We will continue to explore all opportunities to increase access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.