UK Military Delivers Over 10 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

The UK military has successfully dropped more than 10 tonnes of food supplies to help the people living in Gaza. This aid package includes essentials like water, rice, cooking oil, flour, canned goods, and baby formula.

The decision to drop this aid was made by the Defence Secretary after ensuring that it was safe for the military to carry out the mission without putting civilians at risk. A Royal Air Force (RAF) A400M plane flew from Amman, Jordan, and dropped the supplies along Gaza’s northern coast. This mission was part of a larger aid effort led by Jordan, with the UK teaming up with the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the UK’s commitment to helping reduce suffering in Gaza, especially following the destruction caused by an attack on October 7th. The UK aims to deliver aid through every possible route – by air, land, and potentially sea – and is urging Israel to allow more aid to come through by opening ports and land crossings.

This airdrop is notable for being the first time the A400M was used to deliver humanitarian aid by parachute. Both RAF and British Army personnel were involved in ensuring the supplies reached civilians directly.

This effort is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to providing essential support to Gaza’s people amid a growing humanitarian crisis. In addition to this airdrop, the UK has also sent 2,000 tonnes of food aid by land, which will feed over 275,000 people, along with blankets, tents, and other relief supplies. The UK has even set up a field hospital in Gaza with the help of a British charity.

The UK is also working internationally to establish a direct sea route to Gaza for delivering more aid and has teams in the United States and Cyprus to support this effort. Moreover, the UK has announced an additional £10 million in aid for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, bringing its total aid for this financial year to over £100 million. This funding will help UN agencies and provide essential items to those most in need.