London: The UK government has announced a new POUND 60 million (equivalent to USD 81 million) humanitarian aid package to support healthcare, food, and water in Gaza, the British Foreign Office stated on Monday. In a statement to Parliament, Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined plans to scale up food assistance programs, water and sanitation services, and maternal and children's healthcare through the new funding. According to Kuwait News Agency, this initiative will include continued support for two field hospitals in Gaza operated by UK-Med. UK-Med, a frontline medical organization deployed to crises, has treated over 500,000 Gazans throughout the conflict. In the past fortnight alone, 24,000 individuals have received treatment from UK-Med for a variety of medical conditions and conflict-related injuries. The announcement also includes POUND 20 million in support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This funding is aimed at providing emergency f ood, shelter, and other support for over two million people, as well as supporting UNRWA's broader work across the region. UNRWA's efforts in Gaza ensure that water provision reaches up to 600,000 people monthly. Additionally, the UK has announced POUND seven million in support to strengthen governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including backing the Palestinian Authority's reform agenda. Lammy highlighted that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have driven Palestinians out of 86 percent of Gaza, leaving around two million people in an area scarcely over twenty square miles. Addressing the situation in Syria, Lammy emphasized the need for an investigation into the violence in Al-Suwayda and holding those responsible accountable. He stressed the importance of restoring humanitarian access, delivering aid, and respecting Syria's sovereignty. He noted that the UK has been a long-term supporter of the Syrian people, and a stable Syria is crucial to the UK's national interest concerning terror ism, irregular migration, and regional stability.
