Commissioner Šuica addresses the Ministerial roundtable on Health and Humanitarian access in Gaza

Let me thank the United Kingdom, Jordan, and Qatar for bringing us together today.

Right now, Gazans have little to no access to food or water.

And their health system has been devastated –  facing 1.4 billion dollars in damages and 10 billion dollars in needs.

We know this for a fact, thanks to the Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment.

We conducted this crucial work together with the World Bank and the United Nations in April, giving us a clear assessment of reconstruction needs.

Gazans need primary healthcare, emergency medical services, and evacuations when necessary.

Just as they need humanitarian aid to enter the strip unimpeded.

And here I want to recognise the efforts of Jordan.

Thank you, dear Ayman, for your crucial work.

Without it, the 675 million euro in humanitarian aid that the EU has provided since 2023 would not have had the same impact:

Still, we know the task ahead is enormous.

That is why, last July, I launched the Team Gaza Initiative at the second Palestinian Donor Group meeting in Brussels.

Together with other donors, to start with, we put together 1 billion US dollars for early recovery projects.

And we are working with our implementing partners to make sure this money makes a real difference on the ground.

Already yesterday, I signed two early recovery flagship projects:

These projects are a meaningful first step.

And we hope it spurs more projects to grow in the months to come – delivering on the Gaza Peace Plan.

The European Union stands ready to do more – both on humanitarian aid and on early recovery, working with all actors on the ground.