UK Announces £4 Million in Funding for Gaza Demining Efforts
The United Kingdom has pledged £4 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to support demining operations in Gaza, aiming to facilitate the safe delivery of vital humanitarian aid. The funding will provide explosives experts, equipment, and educational resources to clear unexploded ordnance and rubble.
Foreign Office Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan stated,”We will not be able to get relief at the scale so desperately needed in Gaza without clearing munitions and making progress on the pathway for lasting peace.”
The initiative is considered a “vital component” of the US-brokered ceasefire deal, enabling the safe passage of aid, which has seen increased distribution as the ceasefire began on October 10th. Though, Israel has restricted the number of aid trucks entering Gaza, citing delays in the return of the bodies of hostages held by Hamas.
British organizations Halo Trust and MAG (Mines Advisory Group) – responsible for clearing 69% of civilian landmines globally – are involved in the effort, alongside UNMAS. Richard Boulter, UNMAS chief of design, operational support and oversight, emphasized the urgency of the work, stating the organization is ”pulling out all the stops” to protect Palestinians “striving to find food and return to their homes.” He called the UK support an “essential boost.”
The announcement follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 people. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, resulted in over 68,500 fatalities. Trevelyan is scheduled to visit the region later this week to further advocate for aid access and reconstruction efforts.
