By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - The British foreign secretary warned Saturday of the dire situation and "real" famine risk in the Gaza Strip as the UK announced the deployment of a Royal Navy ship to join a humanitarian mission in the region.
The British government announced a package of military and civilian support "to set up a maritime aid corridor to Gaza," including the deployment of a Royal Navy ship to join the life-saving mission in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"The ship, alongside new UK aid and British expertise, will support the establishment of an international humanitarian maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza, supported by many of our partner governments and the UN, and is expected to be operational in early May," according to a statement by the Foreign Office and the Defense Ministry.
Along with the ship, the Foreign Office has committed up to £9.7 million ($12.2 million) for aid deliveries, including logistical expertise and equipment support to the corridor.
The UK reiterated its call for an "immediate humanitarian pause" leading to a sustainable cease-fire and said it is the "fastest way to get hostages safely home and more aid in."
"The situation in Gaza is dire and the prospect of famine is real. We remain committed to getting aid to those who so desperately need it," said Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Highlighting that land access remains crucial to deliver aid on the scale required, he welcomed the opening of the Erez and the Port of Ashdod, but added there is a need to continue to explore all options, including by sea and air, to ease the "desperate plight of some of the world’s most vulnerable people."
"Gazans are facing a devastating humanitarian crisis and there needs to be a significant increase in the volume of vital supplies entering the territory by all routes, as well as changes to ensure aid can safely be delivered on the ground," added Cameron.
Following the killing of World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers earlier this week, he noted that the UK continues to call for "urgent reform of deconfliction mechanisms" alongside assurances that guarantee the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers.
The US-based food charity confirmed Tuesday that seven of its humanitarian aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike late Monday.
The workers were nationals of Australia, Poland, the UK and Palestine as well as a US-Canadian dual citizen.
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and 75,577 injured in Gaza amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities, following a devastating Israeli onslaught after a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas,
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which last week asked it to do more to prevent famine in Gaza.