The UK government has sharply criticised the prolonged delays in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, after more than 1,100 UK-funded tents took over 12 months to enter the territory despite the ongoing ceasefire.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was deeply concerned that multiple aid shipments financed by the UK were still struggling to reach displaced families, warning that conditions in Gaza remain “dire” as winter rains and dropping temperatures worsen the humanitarian emergency. The UN estimates that 1.5 million people urgently need shelter.
The tents, each designed to house up to five people, finally arrived on Monday, with additional deliveries expected in the coming days. Government officials say the shelters could support roughly 12,000 people through the winter.
Cooper stressed that the prolonged hold-ups at border crossings were unacceptable, urging that all entry points into Gaza be opened to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
She noted that the combination of crumbling infrastructure, harsh weather, and the devastation of more than two years of conflict has left parents “trying to protect their children under broken roofs and open skies.”
“These tents will offer a vital lifeline,” she said. “They will shield thousands of families from cold winds and heavy rain that continues turning rubble into mud.”
Nearly 1.9 million Gaza residents—close to 90% of the population—have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023, according to UN figures.
While welcoming the tents’ arrival, Cooper said it highlighted only a fraction of what is needed, adding that she was frustrated by additional aid shipments being stuck at the border earlier this year.
“This cannot go on,” she said. “The impact of even one successful delivery shows what is possible when aid is allowed through. We will keep pushing for unhindered humanitarian access, the opening of all crossings, and progress toward a lasting peace.”
Unicef’s Special Representative to the State of Palestine, Jonathan Veitch, said the delivery reflects months of diplomatic pressure to improve aid access.
He warned that living conditions remain “devastating” for families facing cold temperatures and heavy rain.
“Even with the ceasefire, daily life for children in Gaza is extremely difficult,” he said. “These UK-supported tents will offer urgently needed shelter—but far more aid is still required.”