UN Official Outlines Task Facing Aid Workers in Gaza After Ceasefire
A senior official with the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, outlined the scale of the task facing aid workers as they prepare to ramp up their response in Gaza following the agreement of a ceasefire and hostage deal. Over 15 months of Israeli bombardment has left the Palestinian enclave in a state of humanitarian disaster, with more than 2 million people displaced multiple times, and hunger, disease, and a lack of medical care rampant.
UNRWA’s acting director of affairs in Gaza, Sam Rose, said that aid agencies expect hundreds of thousands of people to return to Gaza City once the ceasefire takes effect, making logistics and congestion a major concern. Rose also warned of the risk of unexploded ordnance hidden under debris, which poses a major threat to children and civilians.
The flow of aid has been severely hindered, with 4,000 aid trucks stuck at a border crossing point for months. Two-thirds of all food aid from UNRWA has been waiting outside the enclave, and Rose stressed that the flow of aid must increase from the first day of the ceasefire to be effective.
However, Rose noted that aid is only one factor in the humanitarian response, and that fuel, spare parts, and other essential supplies are also needed to get hospitals, electricity plants, and water supply systems back up and running. Despite the challenges, Rose emphasized that any increase in aid would be a success, and that the agency is working to prepare for the massive influx of aid that is expected once the ceasefire takes effect.
