The United Kingdom has announced new funding to support demining operations in Gaza, aimed at improving aid access and ensuring the safety of Palestinians and humanitarian workers. As part of its wider diplomatic efforts to secure unrestricted humanitarian access, the UK will provide £4 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). This funding will be used to deploy additional explosive ordnance experts, deliver essential equipment, and provide risk education to communities affected by unexploded munitions.
The funding will help clear an estimated 7,500 tonnes of unexploded munitions, including landmines and cluster bombs, which currently obstruct the safe passage of humanitarian convoys into Gaza. By removing these hazards, the initiative seeks to protect civilians, enable aid delivery, and help rebuild communities devastated by conflict. The effort also supports the broader international peace process, contributing to the transition from the current ceasefire to a more stable phase of recovery and reconstruction.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis cannot be addressed without safe access routes for aid. She highlighted that the UK’s new contribution will play a vital role in clearing explosives and supporting efforts to “flood Gaza with aid.”
UNMAS Chief of Design, Operational Support and Oversight Richard Boulter expressed appreciation for the UK’s support, stating that the organization is working intensively with UN partners to address the threat of unexploded ordnance that endangers Palestinian lives and hinders recovery efforts.
The Foreign Secretary is set to visit the HALO Trust headquarters in Wilton, where she will meet representatives from UNMAS, HALO, and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG). British organizations HALO and MAG, which together deliver nearly 70% of all civilian mine clearance operations worldwide, play a crucial role in the demining efforts in Gaza. This new funding will enhance coordination and scale up mine clearance activities across the region.
The visit marks part of the UK’s ongoing push to expand humanitarian access, support UN and NGO operations, and lay the groundwork for reconstruction and long-term peace in Gaza.
