UK sends first maritime shipment of aid to Gaza

The United Kingdom sent its first ever maritime shipment of aid to Gaza on Tuesday, said Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in a press release.

The shipment includes 87 tonnes of life-saving UK and Cypriot aid delivered by Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship Lyme Bay to Egypt from Cyprus.

It includes over 10,000 thermal blankets, around 5,000 shelter packs, along with medical supplies.

The shipment comes after the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Egypt in December to see first-hand the importance of UK aid for the people of Gaza.

The Defence Secretary visited Cyprus and Israel last month as well to discuss the necessity of sending aid.

“The UK is committed to supporting the people of Gaza. We have already trebled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and today’s aid delivery – the first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza – via Port Said in Egypt contains almost 90 tonnes of vital supplies,” said UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

The Israeli aggression on Gaza has been ongoing for almost three months, killing more than 22,000 civilians and wounding more than 60,000.