A senior official with the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, Sam Rose, has spoken about the massive task ahead as aid workers prepare to ramp up their response in Gaza following a ceasefire and hostage deal. For over 15 months, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has destroyed homes, displaced over 2 million people, and triggered a humanitarian crisis marked by hunger, disease, and a lack of medical care.
Rose, the acting director of affairs in Gaza, explained that many of the UNRWA’s warehouses have been inaccessible for months, but they are working to prepare them for operations. The distribution networks and staff are in place, but the entry of aid to Gaza has been systematically hindered and constrained, with a breakdown in law and order and destroyed roads adding to the challenges.
With a ceasefire expected to take effect in the coming days, pending an Israeli government vote, Rose warns of logistical concerns and congestion as hundreds of thousands of people are set to return to Gaza City. Unexploded ordnance hidden under debris is also a major risk, particularly for children and civilians.
The flow of aid is a pressing concern, with 4,000 aid trucks stuck at a border crossing point for months, and two-thirds of all food aid, mostly from UNRWA, waiting outside the enclave. Rose stressed that the flow of aid must increase from the first day of the ceasefire, which can only happen if trucks can come and go safely from border points.
However, Rose recognized that aid is just one factor in the humanitarian response, and that other essential supplies such as fuel, spare parts, and medical equipment are also crucial to get hospitals, electricity plants, and water systems running again.