Issued by: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

• Anneliese Dodds calls for peace and security in the Middle East amid escalating tensions, on her first visit to the region in her role.

• The International Development Minister also pledges new UK package of food, water, health, education and wellbeing support for Gazans on visit to Jordan.

• She will meet key Jordanian Ministers to discuss how their two countries can work even more closely together in future.

As tensions rise between Israel and Lebanon, the minister will call for calm in the wider Middle East, and continue diplomatic efforts made by the Foreign and Defence Secretaries in Qatar, Lebanon and Israel last week to lead a renewed push for peace.

She will also repeat calls for British Nationals to leave Lebanon now, due to rising risks associated with the ongoing conflict between Israel, Lebanese Hizballah and other non-state actors in Lebanon.

Amid the threat of growing instability in the wider region, Gazans continue to face a devastating humanitarian crisis.

During her visit to Jordan, the minister will announce £6 million in funding for UNICEF’s work to support vulnerable families in Gaza.

The £6 million package will help tens of thousands of Gazans access food and water, as well as health, education and wellbeing services.

She will also visit a World Food Programme depot, which plays a key role in the delivery of aid to Gaza.

Development Minister Anneliese Dodds said:

"Now is the time for calm, if we are to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. It is in no-one’s interests for tensions to escalate and spread across the wider region.

"We are seeing the humanitarian impact of conflict on Gazans. This new UK support will provide a lifeline for vulnerable families, giving them access to basic food and water during a desperate time. I am grateful to the Jordanian Government for supporting UK efforts to get aid to those in such desperate need.

"But this appalling situation cannot continue. We must see an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unfettered access to lifesaving aid for those in Gaza."

UK funding will support the vaccination and immunisation of over 20,000 children, provide over 8,000 school-aged children with recreational activities to boost their wellbeing and help over 55,000 people in Gaza access clean water and sanitation.

During her visit, the minister will also meet key charity partners, including the World Food Programme to hear about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Jordan.

Separately, the UK is also announcing today it is allocating £14 million to support Syrian refugees currently living in the Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan-Syria border. The funding will be delivered in September this year, with £7 million going to UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – and the same amount to the World Food Programme. Jordan is currently home to over 3 million refugees, many of them from neighbouring Syria.

During her visit the minister will meet Jordanian Minister of Finance, Mohamad Al Ississ, and the foreign ministry’s Secretary General, Majid Al-Qatarneh to discuss Jordan’s successful economic performance in a challenging geopolitical environment. The Ministers will agree steps for the UK and Jordan to accelerate efforts to boost their economic prosperity, as well as find ways of building resilience to the climate crisis.

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

British nationals should not travel to Lebanon and those who are already there should leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available. British nationals are advised to follow Foreign Office Travel Advice Lebanon travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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