Aid Projects: Gaza

Dr. Iddon
11. To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of Government funding available for humanitarian assistance to Gaza in the last three years has been disbursed to aid projects in that area.

Mr. Douglas Alexander
The Department for International Development responded swiftly to the humanitarian crisis following Operation Cast Lead, pledging £26.8 million for immediate humanitarian aid and early recovery activities. Of this, £18.3 million has already been spent. Prior to the conflict, we had given the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) £3 million to meet immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza—£1 million in 2007 and £2 million in 2008.