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International cooperation

UK Minister Calls for Peace and Security in the Middle East

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds will pledge new UK aid and meet key Jordanian Ministers in her first official visit to the Middle East. Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, the minister will call for calm in the region and continue diplomatic efforts made by the Foreign and Defence Secretaries. She will also repeat calls for British nationals to leave Lebanon now due to rising risks associated with the ongoing conflict. The visit aims to demonstrate the UK's commitment to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK is providing a new package of food, water, health, education, and wellbeing support for Gazans, worth £6 million, to be delivered through UNICEF.
  • The package will support vulnerable families in Gaza, providing access to basic necessities such as food, water, health, education, and wellbeing services.
  • The UK is allocating £14 million to support Syrian refugees currently living in the Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan-Syria border, with £7 million going to UNHCR and £7 million to the World Food Programme.
  • The funding will be delivered in September this year and will support vaccination and immunisation of over 20,000 children, recreation activities for over 8,000 school-aged children, and clean water and sanitation for over 55,000 people in Gaza.
  • The UK is calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unfettered access to lifesaving aid for those in Gaza.
  • The minister will meet key charity partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, to hear about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Jordan.
  • The UK and Jordan will accelerate efforts to boost their economic prosperity and build resilience to the climate crisis, with the ministers agreeing steps to achieve this.

Statistics:

  • £6 million in funding will be provided by the UK government to support vulnerable families in Gaza.
  • £14 million will be allocated to support Syrian refugees in the Zaatari refugee camp.
  • 20,000 children will be vaccinated and immunised through the UK-funded program.
  • 8,000 school-aged children will receive recreational activities to boost their wellbeing.
  • 55,000 people in Gaza will have access to clean water and sanitation.
  • 3 million refugees are currently living in Jordan, many of them from neighboring Syria.

Sources:

  • "Anneliese Dodds to visit Jordan: uk.gov"
  • "UK allocates £14 million to support Syrian refugees: uk.gov"
  • "UK Ministry of International Development: uk.gov"
  • "International Development Secretary: uk.gov"
  • "UNICEF: unicef.org"
  • "World Food Programme: wfp.org"
  • "UNHCR: unhcr.org"

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