Copenhagen, 18 October 2023 (TDI): The government of Denmark pledged 50 million Danish Kroner (DKK) to provide critical humanitarian support to the civilian population in Gaza on October 17, 2023.
This aid will be channeled through trusted humanitarian partners, namely the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Danish government will use 33 million Kroner out of a total of 2.2 million Kroner through UN agencies for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to meet the basic humanitarian needs of civilians, particularly in Gaza and the remaining 17 million Kroner will be given to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.
This funding will support various efforts including emergency aid, medical treatment for the wounded, and humanitarian diplomacy, which includes negotiation and ensuring humanitarian access.
Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen emphasized that the primary objective of this assistance program is to help civilians meet their basic humanitarian needs, which includes access to food, water, and shelter.
He added that this assistance program is distinct from the government’s previous decision made on October 10, 2023, to temporarily suspend Danish development assistance to Palestine.
According to the United Nations (UN) out of the total population of 2.2 million people in Gaza, 1.3 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
It’s estimated that 1 million people have been displaced within Gaza in the past week and approximately 2,780 individuals lost their lives in the previous week, including 724 children.
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The situation in Gaza has been worsened by an Israeli-imposed blockade that includes restrictions on water, food, and electricity.
Furthermore, Israel has carried out continuous airstrikes on Gaza in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The ongoing airstrikes on Gaza have been widely condemned by human rights groups and international leaders and they called them collective punishment which is not permitted under international law.
