Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on taking steps to help prevent a polio outbreak in Gaza.

The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to drive urgent action on polio vaccination in Gaza, including by convening an emergency session of the UN Security Council in August. The UK supported delivery of the vaccination campaign through our funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The final phase of the polio vaccination rollout has now ended, but an estimated 6,800 to 13,700 children in North Gaza were not reached, because of intense IDF activity there. This is deplorable. Delaying the vaccination of any child puts them at risk and is unacceptable. As winter takes hold, we are urgently pressing Israel to ensure sufficient aid, including vital medical treatment, reaches civilians in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this in his 14 November call with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar.