Human RightsWorld

Gaza Struggles to Recover Amid Ceasefire

Hope Amid Ruins: UN Ramps Up Aid Efforts in Gaza During Ceasefire

Many residents of Gaza have returned to their original locations only to find their homes reduced to rubble after a devastating 15-month-long war. The conflict has inflicted extensive damage to essential infrastructure across the Gaza Strip. On Monday, Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported that over 630 trucks loaded with food supplies had entered Gaza.

Before the war began in October 2023, approximately 500 trucks of aid would typically enter Gaza daily. Amid the ceasefire, some hostages held by Hamas have been released and reunited with their families, bringing some relief to Israel. In line with the truce terms, several Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons have also been freed.

Tom Fletcher expressed gratitude to UN aid teams and partners for their tireless dedication and creativity in preparing for this critical moment. He also urged countries to leverage their influence to ensure that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches all those in need without hindrance.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that the first day of the ceasefire saw a noticeable increase in the delivery of aid and commercial supplies to Gaza. Top UN humanitarian coordinators visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which had been closed since May 2024, and inspected preparations in the nearby Egyptian city of Al-Arish to facilitate aid delivery.

In a joint statement released by the UN office in Egypt, the delegation reaffirmed the UN’s steadfast commitment to helping those facing severe hardships in Gaza. “This visit was part of efforts to ensure that aid supplies through Egypt operate at full capacity,” the statement noted.

The high-level delegation included Elena Panova, the top UN humanitarian official in Egypt, along with representatives from OCHA, UNRWA, and the World Food Programme. Panova emphasized, “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely dire. The ceasefire is a golden opportunity to deliver much-needed relief to those suffering from the devastating effects of the war. All available routes must be utilized to ensure aid reaches those in urgent need as quickly as possible.”

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button