UN Aid Breaks Months-Long Blockade in Gaza
In a rare nighttime operation, the United Nations retrieved about 90 truckloads of life-saving goods destined for Gaza, marking the first major delivery in over 80 days.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said nearly 20 truckloads, carrying roughly 500 pallets of ready-to-use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutritional supplements, were safely offloaded at UNICEF's warehouse in Deir al-Balah. Teams are unpacking and repackaging these supplies into smaller loads, preparing shipments to dozens of distribution points across southern and central Gaza.
Supported by the World Food Programme, a handful of bakeries have resumed bread production and are now distributing fresh loaves through community kitchens. For families facing acute scarcity, this is a vital first step toward relief.
But after almost 80 days of a total humanitarian blockade, the scale of need vastly outstrips the relief. OCHA warns that Gaza's 2.1 million residents still lack basic items such as fresh food, hygiene products, water purification agents, and fuel to power hospitals.
Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stressed the urgency of resuming commercial trucking. "Markets need access to fresh fruits and vegetables," he said. "Nearly 500,000 people are teetering on the edge of starvation."
OCHA has called on Israeli authorities to facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys—particularly from southern to northern Gaza—to ensure essential supplies reach all communities in need.
For a population already grappling with conflict and displacement, this operation represents a crucial lifeline. Yet, global support and unimpeded access remain critical to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Reference(s):
UN aid reaches Gaza for first time in months amid famine risk
cgtn.com
