Ursula von der Leyen – Photo © European Union 2023
(BRUSSELS) – The European Union announced it was sending an extra EUR 25 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza Monday, with a quadrupling of EU humanitarian assistance to over EUR 100 million for Gaza this year.
The new assistance will be provided to humanitarian organisations to provide life-saving assistance, says the Commission, focusing in particular on water and sanitation, health, food and other essential items.
Announcing the increase, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today, I can announce that we are further increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza by another 25 million. By doing so, the European Union would spend a total of 100 million in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. At the same time, we are working with Israel, Egypt, and the United Nations, to let more convoys into Gaza, including through corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.”
European Council conclusions of 26 October called for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.
The EU has launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation in aid to the people affected by the crisis, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian cargo supplied by partners such as UNICEF and international organisations
Since 16 October, 6 flights carrying over 263 tonnes of aid reached Egypt. The operations aim to facilitate the prepositioning of aid in support of fast delivery of assistance to people in need in Gaza.
Furthermore, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to offer support for repatriation flights from Israel.
