Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza strip; and what steps he is taking to support (a) Islamic Relief, (b) the Egyptian Red Crescent and (c) other aid agencies to deliver aid.

The United Nations assesses that 2.3 million people in Gaza need access to safe drinking water and food. Current supplies are running out, one third of hospitals have been forced to shut down and 1.6 million people are displaced. The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary continue to engage regularly and closely with regional counterparts including Israel and Egypt on the humanitarian response. The UK Government has already announced £30 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 51 tonnes of aid including lifesaving items such as wound care packs and water filters but also forklift trucks, belt conveyors and lighting towers, which have been specifically requested by the Egyptian Red Crescent. However, the flow of aid to Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other border crossings such as Kerem Shalom.