Asked by: Bill Grant (Conservative - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to hospitals in Gaza.
Answered by Alistair Burt
To help address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and alleviate the burdened health system, the UK has provided £1.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) Appeal. This will help treat patients in 11 hospitals under pressure in Gaza, by restocking vital medical supplies including surgical equipment, bandages and medical supplies, and to help provide physical rehabilitation services for around 4,000 people, following the recent surge in violence. To help disabled people regain mobility the ICRC will also continue to support the Artificial Limb Centre in Gaza. In addition, the UK has increased its assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees by an extra £17m this year to help support the provision of basic healthcare in 22 health centres in Gaza.
Our support in the longer term looks to address the underlying causes of humanitarian strife and raise living standards by focussing on increasing trade and job creation, enabling greater movement and access for people and goods, and enhancing the supply of electricity and clean water. We continue to regularly press the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority about the need to expedite medical permits and the unimpeded passage of medical personnel.