The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that malnutrition in Gaza has reached a dangerous level and could worsen further. This warning comes as aid deliveries to Gaza have begun via air routes.
Jordan, in coordination with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reported that it dropped 25 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Israel has announced that it will suspend military operations for 10 hours daily in certain parts of Gaza and will open corridors for the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance.
Israel stated that the decision was made to counter what it called “deliberately false claims of famine.” On the other hand, Hamas has accused Israel of trying to damage its image over the issue.
The United Nations has welcomed Israel’s decision regarding access to humanitarian aid in Gaza
Amid the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war in Gaza, the United Nations has welcomed Israel’s decision to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid through certain designated safe land routes. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher expressed a positive response to the move, stating that efforts will be made to reach hundreds of thousands of people suffering from hunger. Through a message on social media, he said, “The news that humanitarian access to Gaza has been granted is welcome. Our teams are working hard to reach as many people as possible.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had earlier warned that the situation in Gaza was already extremely dire and was rapidly deteriorating. According to OCHA, the risk of disease is rising significantly due to hunger, malnutrition, and lack of sanitation, which could soon lead to widespread loss of life. The agency noted that the limited aid currently reaching Gaza falls drastically short of meeting actual needs.
OCHA also stated that if Israel allows aid to enter through open border crossings, and grants access for fuel, equipment, and personnel to operate safely, the UN is ready to immediately deliver food, healthcare, drinking water, sanitation services, nutritional support, and temporary shelter supplies at an accelerated pace. However, recent obstacles imposed by Israeli security forces have hindered aid operations. On Thursday, only 5 out of 15 aid missions were successfully completed.
Given the emergency situation, OCHA has already released a detailed aid delivery plan that could be implemented immediately under a ceasefire. As millions of innocent civilians in Gaza face severe crisis, the UN has called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure safe access for the delivery of life-saving assistance.
