<p>The UK Government has long been concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza which has arisen due to the impact of the movement and access restrictions imposed by the Government of Israel. I saw the impact first hand when I visited Gaza in April 2013. DFID continues to engage with the relevant authorities to encourage more steps towards the lifting of the restrictions.</p><p>The recent closure of the tunnels and reduced access through the Rafah Crossing have compounded an already precarious economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN has reported that fuel is available from Israel but the cost is prohibitively high. Service providers including hospitals and the Gaza Power Plant are facing shortages.</p>