Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has expressed deep frustration over the situation where thousands of tons of essential aid meant for starving Palestinians are stranded in a warehouse. In a World Food Programme (WFP) depot near Amman, Jordan, approximately 5,000 pallets, equivalent to 4,000 metric tonnes, containing items such as wheat flour, tinned goods, yeast, and sugar are currently held due to Israeli restrictions.
Authorities confirm that there is sufficient aid in Jordan to support the passage of 150 trucks into Gaza daily, operating five days a week for three months. However, the primary crossing from Jordan to the West Bank has been blocked for goods vehicles by Israel. Cooper emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that UK-funded aid destined for Gaza is being delayed in Jordan.
The stored wheat alone could sustain 700,000 people for a month, underscoring the pressing need for swift action to alleviate hunger in Gaza. Cooper called for the reopening of the Jordanian route into Gaza and all crossings to facilitate the prompt delivery of aid. She stressed the critical importance of ensuring that aid reaches the people of Gaza without delay.
Efforts to increase aid delivery to Gaza have intensified following the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, although the current levels fall short of those outlined in the peace plan proposed by former President Donald Trump. Non-governmental organizations have accused the Israeli government of impeding aid shipments and hindering charitable organizations from providing assistance to Gaza.
Cooper is leading diplomatic initiatives to boost aid supplies to Gaza, collaborating with the UN, allied nations, and a US-led coordination committee to enhance aid distribution further. She urged Israel to remove restrictions and reopen the crossings as part of the peace process and to facilitate the influx of aid.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation before winter sets in, Cooper emphasized the critical need for shelter and assistance for over a million individuals in Gaza. Supplies of warm clothing and shelter kits managed by organizations like Unicef are also awaiting transport to Gaza.
Cooper emphasized the need for immediate action to facilitate aid delivery, stressing the importance of the Jordanian route to ensure efficient aid distribution and the reconstruction of permanent housing for the affected population. Musonda Kasonde, deputy representative of operations at Unicef, described the situation in Gaza as dire, emphasizing the urgent requirement for assistance, especially as winter approaches.
Expressing the immediate need for children’s essentials like shoes and warm coats, Kasonde emphasized the critical importance of prompt access to deliver aid effectively to those in need.