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Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative) on Monday, 18 December 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 January 2024. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 January 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Gaza: Development Aid

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what public funds have been made available, through the aid budget, to the Gaza Strip in each of the last three years; what safeguards they have put in place to ensure that such funds were not diverted to military purposes by Hamas; and whether such safeguards were applied.

Answer

FCDO delivers its aid in Gaza through trusted partners with a proven record of delivery. Thorough due diligence assessment of all aid donations is carried out and the FCDO ensures partners have procedures in place to manage the main risks of aid diversion from activities it funds, including specific controls to ensure that cash/food assistance goes direct to the intended beneficiaries. Additionally, FCDO humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories operates with an enhanced sensitivity and existing additional safeguards to protect against any possibility of aid diversion. These safeguards include measures on verification and mapping of downstream partners, non-payment of local taxes and enhanced due diligence processes. The Actual Spend for Occupied Palestinian Territories for the last three financial years:

2020/2021 - £79.7 million

2021/2022 - £29.8 million

2022/2023 - £25.7 million.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1285
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Development aid Safety Gaza Hamas
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk