The United Nations official overseeing humanitarian aid is calling on Israel to fully open all entry points to Gaza to facilitate the influx of assistance into the region. Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, made this plea during an interview with CBC News conducted in El-Arish, Egypt, following his visit to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
Expressing his emotional reaction to the situation, Fletcher highlighted the urgent need to expedite the delivery of aid supplies that have accumulated over several months. He emphasized the necessity of significantly increasing the volume of aid transportation, advocating for “thousands of trucks per week” to transport essential items like food, medicine, and other supplies into Gaza.
While acknowledging that some humanitarian aid has started to flow into Gaza through Israeli crossings at Kerem Shalom and Kissufim, Fletcher stressed the importance of opening additional crossings such as Rafah to ensure that civilians receive the assistance they require. He emphasized that humanitarian aid should not be used as a bargaining tool, citing established rules and laws governing such operations.
Although Israel has indicated its readiness to open the Rafah crossing for the movement of people, it has not allowed humanitarian aid through this point. The Israeli government clarified that the decision to permit people to cross Rafah would be announced later, emphasizing that humanitarian aid was not part of the agreement.
Despite the strained relationship between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing issues related to a past conflict and ceasefire violations, Fletcher expressed optimism about potential progress. He hoped for positive developments regarding the opening of the Rafah Crossing in the coming days.
Accompanied by Samer Abdeljaber, the regional director for the World Food Program in Cairo, Fletcher stressed the importance of opening more crossings to enhance access to Gaza. Abdeljaber emphasized the need for secure and orderly access within Gaza to ensure that people can freely reach distribution points and move around safely.
While aid trucks have started entering Gaza, concerns remain about the scarcity of medical care and the high number of homeless individuals in the region. Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of Gaza’s media office, described the aid received post-ceasefire as minimal compared to the immense needs of the population.
Groups working within Gaza welcomed the arrival of aid but called for expedited operations to address ongoing challenges. Rachael Cummings, humanitarian director for Save the Children in Gaza, emphasized the critical need for humanitarian supplies to support children suffering from various health issues. She stressed the urgency of opening all land crossings into Gaza to efficiently deliver aid and alleviate the suffering of the population, emphasizing the extensive rebuilding and reconstruction needed for the region’s recovery.
