The UN’s top humanitarian relief official is calling on Israel to fully open all entry points to Gaza to facilitate the influx of critical aid into the region. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, emphasized the urgent need to expedite the delivery of humanitarian supplies into Gaza during his visit to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
Fletcher expressed the emotional impact of witnessing the backlog of supplies awaiting transportation into Gaza, stressing the necessity to significantly increase the volume of aid deliveries, aiming for “thousands of trucks per week” carrying essential items such as food and medicine.
While acknowledging that some aid shipments have been successfully entering Gaza through designated Israeli crossings like Kerem Shalom and Kissufim, Fletcher emphasized the importance of opening additional crossings, including Rafah, to ensure prompt assistance reaches civilians in need. He emphasized that humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining tool but rather as a fundamental right governed by international laws and regulations.
Israel has indicated its readiness to open the Rafah crossing for the movement of people, but humanitarian aid remains excluded from this arrangement until further notice. Despite past conflicts and ongoing tensions with Hamas, Fletcher remains hopeful for positive developments regarding the opening of the Rafah Crossing in the near future.
Samer Abdeljaber, the regional director for the World Food Program in Cairo, echoed the call for increased access through multiple crossings into Gaza to enhance aid distribution and ensure the safety and well-being of the population within the region.
While aid trucks have started entering Gaza, medical services are still scarce, and a significant portion of the population remains displaced. Various organizations operating in Gaza have welcomed the arrival of aid but stress the need for expedited operations to address the persistent humanitarian crisis affecting vulnerable groups, especially children.
Rachael Cummings, humanitarian director for Save the Children in Gaza, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by children in Gaza, emphasizing the critical role of humanitarian supplies in alleviating suffering and rebuilding essential infrastructure. Despite the immense destruction caused by past conflicts, efforts to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza are imperative for long-term recovery and stability.