The UK government has condemned delays in delivering aid to Gaza after more than 1,100 tents it sent took over a year to reach the territory.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also expressed concern that other UK-funded assistance has not reached residents, despite the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. She described the situation in Gaza as “dire,” echoing the United Nations’ warning that 1.5 million people urgently need shelter amid worsening rains and falling temperatures ahead of winter.
The tents, each able to house a family of five, arrived on Monday, with additional supplies expected this week. Government sources said the aid could provide shelter for up to 12,000 people during the winter months.
Cooper emphasised that delays in delivering aid cannot continue, calling for all crossings into Gaza to be opened for unhindered humanitarian access. She said the tents would offer a lifeline to thousands, protecting families from cold winds and rain that turns rubble into mud.
Since the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, nearly 1.9 million people in Gaza — almost 90% of the population — have been displaced, according to the UN. Cooper welcomed the arrival of the tents but stressed that they are only a small step towards the larger reconstruction urgently needed, expressing frustration over previous consignments stuck at the border.
