UK unveils £88m aid package for Gaza humanitarian relief and recovery

More Palestinians are set to receive vital aid as a result of a major new UK support package announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on 24 September 2026 at the UN General Assembly, according to a press release from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The £88 million funding will help deliver essential healthcare, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, waste management, and protection support to people affected by the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. It comes as the UK convenes partners with Jordan and Qatar to drive action on humanitarian access and Gaza’s recovery. The announcement follows the reset of the UK’s approach to Israel and Palestine earlier this month. It marks a significant step in the country’s engagement on the crisis.

Following that reset, the UK has brought together a coalition of partners at UNGA and set out plans for humanitarian support. The UK is co-hosting, alongside Jordan and Qatar, a meeting of senior government ministers at the UN General Assembly. The event focuses on driving action on humanitarian access, healthcare, and recovery in Gaza. It brings together regional partners, the United Nations, civil society, Palestinian representatives, and international donors. The discussions aim to identify practical steps to improve the delivery of lifesaving assistance.

UK-funded support is expected to enable medical consultations for up to 900,000 people through UK-supported healthcare facilities. It will provide rehabilitation and prosthetic treatment for 1,000 children with blast injuries. Solid waste management services will reach up to 900,000 people, while safe water provision through emergency water trucking will cover 150,000 people. Mental health and psychosocial support will be delivered to 21,000 people. The package includes support previously announced through UNRWA and the UN Horizon Fund, as well as new humanitarian funding.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “It is vital that civilians in Gaza have unhindered access to aid.” He added that the UK is pledging a major new package of aid to provide much needed healthcare support to those desperately in need. Miliband urged the Government of Israel to listen to the Call to Action and take steps to end its unacceptable restrictions on Gaza. The statement underscores the UK’s push for improved humanitarian access. It reinforces the country’s diplomatic engagement at UNGA.

Since October 2023, UK humanitarian support has helped deliver sustained food assistance to more than 1.4 million people across the Palestinian Territories. It has also improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services for more than 830,000 people. The UK’s bilateral ODA budget for Palestine for FY 26/27 is £127 million, published in July 2026 as part of the FCDO’s planned ODA programme country and regional allocations. UK-funded programmes support healthcare, water and sanitation, protection services, and early recovery activities across Gaza and the Palestinian Territories. The UK continues to work with international partners to support humanitarian access, protect civilians, and lay the foundations for Gaza’s recovery.