UN Warns Gaza Aid Not Reaching Famine-Hit North

Post by : Saif Ali Khan

Since the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations has reported that an average of 560 tonnes of food is entering Gaza every day. This is a major step to help people suffering from hunger. However, aid workers warn that the food is not yet reaching the northern parts of Gaza, including Gaza City, where famine conditions are most severe.

Challenges in Delivering Aid

The delivery of humanitarian aid faces many difficulties. Roads in northern Gaza remain damaged from the fighting, and two key border crossings, Zikim and Erez, are still closed. This makes it extremely difficult for trucks carrying food and other essential supplies to reach the areas most affected by the conflict.

U.N. World Food Programme spokesperson Abeer Etefa explained that while the southern areas of Gaza have started receiving some supplies, the northern regions still struggle to get enough aid. "Access to Gaza City and northern Gaza is extremely challenging," Etefa said. Convoys are moving slowly due to broken or blocked roads.

Currently, only small amounts of nutritional products have reached the north. Relief teams report that about 57 trucks entered southern and central Gaza yesterday, which is less than the 80 to 100 trucks per day that are needed to meet the emergency.

Scale of the Humanitarian Crisis

The war has caused widespread destruction and suffering in Gaza. Many people are homeless, food is scarce, and health services are struggling to cope. Tom Fletcher, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that thousands of aid vehicles would be needed every week to address the crisis.

UN Women, a U.N. agency focusing on women’s rights, highlighted the critical needs of women and girls in Gaza. Sofia Calltorp, a UN Women official, stated that over 1 million women and girls require food aid, and nearly a quarter of a million need urgent nutritional support.

Even with the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation remains dire. The UN and other agencies are working quickly to scale up food assistance, but the northern regions of Gaza continue to face a life-threatening shortage of supplies.

The Way Forward

Humanitarian workers stress the importance of opening the northern routes and increasing aid deliveries to prevent the famine from worsening. The UN continues to call for safe access to all parts of Gaza so that essential supplies can reach everyone in need.

While the ceasefire has temporarily stopped the fighting, it has not ended the crisis. The people of Gaza, particularly in the north, remain highly vulnerable. The international community faces the urgent challenge of ensuring that food, medicine, and other essential services reach those who need them the most.

The coming days will be crucial. Humanitarian agencies are racing against time to prevent starvation and provide support to families who have already suffered immense losses.