UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has warned that humanitarian aid to Gaza remains painfully slow despite recent progress, leaving millions still struggling for food and basic necessities nearly a month after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday that while 37,000 metric tonnes of aid mostly food had reached Gaza since the October 10 ceasefire, it still falls far short of what’s needed to meet the desperate needs of the war-battered population.
“Despite significant progress in scaling up humanitarian operations, people’s needs are still enormous, and restrictions are not easing fast enough,” Haq told reporters, citing updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Access into Gaza remains severely restricted, limited to only two crossings, with no direct routes into northern Gaza from Israel or to southern Gaza from Egypt. Aid workers and NGOs also face barriers in entering the territory.
Earlier this week, the UN announced it had delivered food parcels to one million Gazans but said the race to save lives continues. The World Food Programme (WFP) urged the immediate opening of all border points to deliver massive food assistance to prevent famine, especially in northern Gaza where crossings remain closed without explanation.
The WFP aims to reach 1.6 million people, with each parcel providing enough food for a family for 10 days.
Meanwhile, the United States is pushing a new draft Security Council resolution to reinforce President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The proposal seeks to establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to secure borders, demilitarize Gaza, and oversee the decommissioning of weapons from armed groups.
According to a copy obtained by AFP, the resolution “welcomes the Board of Peace” a transitional governing body for Gaza under Trump’s 20-point plan with a mandate lasting until 2027.
While several Security Council members back the general concept, diplomats say key questions remain particularly about the ISF’s oversight, the role of the Palestinian Authority, and the scope of the peace board’s powers.
The UN continues to urge the world to act swiftly to prevent Gaza’s humanitarian crisis from worsening, warning that time is running out for millions caught between hunger and uncertainty.
