Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Baroness Blower Excerpts

Monday 6th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Where I agree with the noble Baroness is that the hostages ought to be released, and released immediately. They ought to be at home with their families, and she is right to raise that. I do not agree with the suggestion that it is a futile act to get aid in to support those children. It has been proven through the vaccine programme that, where there is the will to do this, it can be done at speed and at scale. Our view is that UNRWA is best placed to deliver that, which is why we are calling for UNRWA immediately to be able to access Gaza in the way that it needs in order to get those supplies in quickly.

[Baroness Blower (Lab)]

There have been many calls from these Benches and other places for the Government to consider urgent temporary medical evacuation, in particular for children who are desperately ill, facing death and terribly injured. Does my noble friend have any comments on that?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

This is a really important question. The situation as it stands at the moment, as my noble friend will know, is that it is best for people who need medical treatment to be treated as close to where they are as possible. Clearly, this situation is desperate and exceptional, and the Government will look compassionately at what is happening. Where we can assist, we will.