Gaza: The United Nations and its partners have successfully provided food aid to more than 1 million people in the Gaza Strip following the implementation of a ceasefire that began a month ago, a senior UN official reported on Monday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts to capitalize on the current period of relative peace to deliver life-saving assistance. Fletcher highlighted the reopening of nutrition sites, the increased capacity of hospitals to treat patients, the clearing of roads, and the resumption of critical immunization programs since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10.
Fletcher also noted significant progress in repairing water lines, distributing winter necessities such as clothes and blankets, and providing mental health and psychosocial services. Despite these advancements, he acknowledged the persistent challenges faced by humanitarian efforts, including bureaucratic obstacles and the need to open more crossings and routes amidst ongoing security concerns.
Over the past weekend, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, reported instances of shelling and naval fire in various parts of Gaza, although these incidents occurred at much lower frequencies compared to the period before the ceasefire. Haq explained that UN teams often need to coordinate their movements with Israeli authorities in advance, citing eight coordination attempts on Sunday, of which only two were fully successful.
Despite these hurdles, Haq affirmed the UN’s commitment to expanding its operations in Gaza. On Sunday, UN agencies launched a catch-up campaign targeting routine immunizations, nutrition, and growth monitoring for children who missed previous vaccination opportunities, aiming to reach a total of 44,000 children. Additionally, UN humanitarian partners have been supplying water trucking services to 2,000 locations throughout the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire, the spokesperson stated.