Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza following the recent floods; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about beginning reconstruction.

The UN declared a state of emergency in Gaza after heavy rain led to flooding. 100,000 people remain displaced, 19,000 of whom are still sheltering in UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools, after the 52 day war of this summer and are in need of immediate assistance. The UK was the first donor to support the tripartite Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) and is in discussion with all the parties to ensure that it facilitates the timely access of large amounts of construction materials into Gaza for reconstruction.