Gaza medical aid funding: FOI release

Information requested

1. Between 1 October 2023 and 17 June 2025, how much has been spent on medical aid and equipment for people living In the Gaza Strip?

2. What sort of conditions are attached to this aid?

3. Can the aid and equipment be used for military personnel or just civilians?

4. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and any employee of UNRWA Representative Office Europe. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timeline (with dates) of any contact between these individuals. Please provide this information between the dates of 1 October 2023 and 17 June 2025 inclusive.

5. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between any Scottish Government Official with a rank of Deputy Director or higher and any employee of UNRWA Representative Office Europe. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timeline (with dates) of any contact between these individuals. Please provide this information between the dates of 1 October 2023 and 17 June 2025 inclusive.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested. As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Further information relevant to the individual requests has been documented below:

1. No funding has been provided by the Scottish Government specifically for medical aid and equipment for people living in the Gaza Strip during the period specified. Scottish Government humanitarian support to the region has been channelled through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Gaza Crisis Appeal to provide life-saving assistance – including food, water, shelter and medical support – to displaced populations. Further contributions have also been made via SCIAF and Mercy Corps, as part of broader humanitarian efforts. More information can be found in the following news release from 22 April 2025: Additional support provided for Middle East appeal - gov.scot

2. Not applicable – no funding has been given specifically for medical aid and equipment for people living in the Gaza Strip.

3. Not applicable – no funding has been given specifically for medical aid and equipment for people living in the Gaza Strip.

4. The Scottish Government holds no information within the scope of this part of your request. 

5. The Scottish Government holds no information within the scope of this part of your request.

About FOI

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