UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a dire warning: Gaza is on the brink of famine and urgently needs a flood of life-saving aid. After nearly 80 days of blockade, only a trickle of assistance has reached civilians in need.
While Israel has cleared almost 400 trucks for entry through the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, just 115 have delivered essential supplies. None have made it to the northern Gaza, where families face starvation under crushing shortages.
'What we’ve seen is a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required,' Guterres said, highlighting strict quotas, delayed procedures and bans on fuel, shelter materials and water purification supplies. With these obstacles in place, security incidents and looting threaten relief efforts.
The world body’s hunger assessment warns that the entire population of Gaza faces famine risk. Guterres urged immediate safety and security measures for UN convoys, warning that staff lives are at risk without direct distribution of food parcels and wheat flour.
As the occupying power, Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law: treat civilians humanely, allow and facilitate aid, and avoid forced displacement. Yet 80 percent of Gaza is now a no-go zone following military designations and evacuation orders.
Guterres underlined the long-term impact of delayed aid: without rapid, reliable, safe and sustained access, more people will die – and the consequences for Gaza’s entire population will be profound.
He renewed calls for a permanent cease-fire, the unconditional release of all hostages and full humanitarian access. With an operational five-stage plan ready, the UN and its partners have 160,000 pallets — enough to fill nearly 9,000 trucks — waiting to roll. 'Let’s do it right. And let’s do it right away,' he appealed.
Key figures at a glance:
- 80 days of blockade
- 400 trucks cleared
- 115 trucks delivered
- 0 deliveries to northern Gaza
- 160,000 pallets ready (~9,000 truckloads)
Reference(s):
Guterres urges urgent aid, safe delivery for Gaza amid crisis
cgtn.com
