Enhanced backing for Palestinians in the UK, with Lammy advocating for Israel to facilitate an influx of humanitarian assistance into Gaza

In a recent development, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has pledged support for pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza, as the humanitarian situation in the region continues to deteriorate.

The UK has announced that it will provide £3 million in aid to Gaza through the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA. This new funding is aimed at improving midwifery provisions in Gaza, where approximately 130 women give birth each day. The aid will also support midwives in the region, providing them with the resources they need to make giving birth safer.

In addition to this, the Foreign Office is working with Oxfam GB to distribute menstrual hygiene products in Gaza. The organisation supported by the UK and Oxfam GB, Reemi, will be distributing Reemi's zero waste menstrual hygiene kits to women and girls with limited access to clean water in the Gaza Strip.

However, the situation in Gaza remains critical. Over 63,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed during Israel's 23-month war in Gaza. The death toll is expected to rise after the IDF declared Gaza City a combat zone on Friday. The arrival of aid trucks into the northern part of the Gaza Strip will also be reduced.

In light of these circumstances, the UK has called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a surge in aid, and a framework to deliver long-term peace. The Foreign Secretary has also called on Israel to allow a "surge in aid" into Gaza and to ensure the protection of civilians, healthcare staff, and health infrastructure in the region.

Israel has announced that it is preparing to scale down its aid supplies in Gaza City and the north of the Gaza Strip. It will also stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days. Furthermore, Israel is preparing to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents south. The country must enable the delivery of life-saving medicines, medical equipment, and healthcare supplies into Gaza.

The situation in Yemen is not addressed in the given information. However, it is clear that women and girls in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the suffering. The UK's aid and calls for peace are a step towards improving the lives of these women and girls, and towards bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza.