Britain increases sea aid to Gaza

The UK Government is today announcing a package of military and civilian support to establish a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, including the deployment of a Royal Navy ship to take part in the life-saving mission in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The ship, together with new UK assistance and expertise, will support the establishment of an international humanitarian maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza, supported by many of our partner governments and the United Nations, and is expected to be operational in early May.

In addition to the Ministry of Defense Royal Navy ship, the FCDO is also providing up to £9.7 million for relief supplies; logistical expertise and equipment support for the corridor, such as forklifts and storage units; and expertise to maximize the extent of assistance reaching those who urgently need it.

Today marks six months since the devastating terrorist attacks on October 7, and almost a week since British aid workers were killed trying to deliver life-saving food to those in need. The UK continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a permanent ceasefire as the quickest way to bring the hostages home safely and provide more aid.

Meanwhile, the British government is doing everything it can to bring more aid to Gaza by land, air and sea. In recent weeks, the Royal Air Force has carried out five airdrops along the Gaza coast, safely delivering over 40 tonnes of food, including water, flour and baby food.

In support of Jordan’s Amman-Gaza Humanitarian Land Corridor, and in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the UK’s largest aid shipment crossed the border on 13 March, with more than 2,000 tonnes of food aid distributed locally to families in need. Land deliveries will now be expanded with the opening of the Erez border crossing, which the UK is aiming to reopen permanently.

A full British field hospital, run by UK-Med, is also now fully operational in Gaza, providing life-saving care. More than 3,000 people have already been treated, almost half of them children.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

“The situation in Gaza is dire and the risk of famine is real. We remain committed to providing help to those who so desperately need it. Together with the United States, Cyprus and other partners, we are building a new temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to bring aid as quickly and safely as possible.

“Land access remains crucial to delivering assistance at the scale now required. The opening of Erez and the port of Ashdod is extremely welcome and something the UK has long been calling for. Israel has also agreed to increase the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to at least 500 per day. But we must continue to explore all options, including by sea and air, to ease the desperate situation of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”

The people of Gaza are facing a devastating humanitarian crisis and there is a need for a significant increase in the amount of essential supplies entering the territory through all routes, as well as changes to ensure that aid can be delivered safely on the ground.

Following the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers last week, the UK government continues to call for urgent reform of conflict management mechanisms, as well as assurances that will ensure the safety of humanitarian workers who are working tirelessly on the ground to ensure vital supplies reach those who need it most.

As part of the multinational maritime corridor initiative, tens of thousands of tons of aid will be pre-screened in Cyprus and delivered directly to Gaza via the new temporary US pier off the coast or via the port of Ashdod, which Israel has now agreed to open. The prime minister earlier this week stressed the importance of opening Ashdod to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps commented:

“A Royal Navy ship is currently en route to the Eastern Mediterranean to support international efforts to provide life-saving aid to Gaza.

“The armed forces play a central role in providing relief supplies. The Royal Air Force recently carried out five airdrops carrying food for the people of Gaza. Now we are going one step further and working with international partners to establish a humanitarian maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza. A new temporary pier on Gaza’s coast will be crucial to supporting these efforts, as it can accommodate cargo ships delivering relief supplies by sea.

“I would like to thank all the staff involved in this operation, who are working around the clock to provide vital assistance in extremely difficult circumstances.”

British military teams have been embedded with planning teams at US operational headquarters in Tampa and in Cyprus for several weeks to jointly develop the safest and most effective sea route. The British Hydrographic Office has also shared an analysis of the Gaza Strip coastline with US planners to help construct the temporary relief pier.