Britain has criticized Gaza aid delays as it takes a year for tents to arrive

The British government has criticized aid delays in Gaza after it took more than a year for a shipment of more than 1,100 tents sent to the Strip to arrive.

The Foreign Secretary also expressed concern that, despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, other UK-funded aid is not reaching residents.

Yovette Cooper said the situation in Gaza was “horrendous” as the United Nations warned that 1.5 million people were in urgent need of shelter amid advancing winter rains and plummeting temperatures.

The Israeli government says it maintains aid distribution agreements and has facilitated the “handover of approximately 250,000 tents and tarpaulins” to Gaza in recent months.

UK-funded tents – each capable of housing a family of five – arrived in Gaza on Monday, with more expected to arrive this week.

Government sources said the tents would shelter around 12,000 people during the winter months.

Cooper said the delay in getting aid to the strip cannot be allowed to continue and all crossings within the area must be opened to allow humanitarian access.

She said: “The situation in Gaza remains dire, with bad weather conditions adding to the serious problems caused by damaged infrastructure and more than two years of conflict.

“Parents are trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies.

“These tents will provide a lifeline to thousands of people who need shelter, saving them from being reduced to rubble by cold winds and incessant rains.”

About 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90% of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, according to the United Nations.

Cooper said the influx of aid was welcome but only a step towards major reconstruction that is “badly needed” and she was disappointed to see “another batch of aid stuck at the border” earlier this year.

“This cannot be allowed to continue,” she said.

“The arrival of these tents shows the scale of the potential impact when our aid arrives, and we will continue to do everything we can to urge unimpeded humanitarian access, the opening of all crossings, the implementation of the peace plan, and the path to peace.”

Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s special representative for the State of Palestine, said the arrival of the tents “represents months of work by the international community to push for more aid access”.

“The situation in Gaza is devastating as the cold, and heavy rains are affecting families living in extremely difficult conditions.

“Despite the ceasefire, daily life for children in the Gaza Strip is incredibly challenging.

“UK aid-supported tents have now entered Gaza and will provide urgently needed shelter to help families cope with the harsh winter. More are needed.”

In a statement, the Israeli defense agency Kogat, which controls Gaza’s crossings, said: “Contrary to the claims, we emphasize that Israel is committed and fully supports its obligation to hand over humanitarian aid trucks in accordance with the agreement.

“In this format, hundreds of trucks enter daily with food, water, fuel, gas, medicine, medical equipment, tents and shelter equipment.

“This takes place in close and continuous coordination with the United Nations, international organizations, donor countries and the private sector.”

It added that in the past three months Kogat has “approved 100,000 pallet requests, winter-related items, shelter equipment, and sanitation supplies submitted by organizations”.

“These supplies are ready and waiting for weeks for immediate coordination by the relevant organizations so that they can enter Gaza.

“Coordination depends on international organizations, and COGAT is committed to facilitating the coordination process.”

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