The United Nations has critically described the amount of aid allowed into Gaza as a mere “trickle,” with UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday demanding “life-saving aid at scale” amidst “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food. His urgent plea highlights the inadequacy of current aid efforts and the desperate need for a massive increase in supplies.
The calls for increased aid come as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group, announced the temporary closure of its facilities following a series of deadly incidents near its distribution centers. This includes the tragic killing of 27 people in southern Gaza on Tuesday, an event currently under Israeli military investigation.
Fletcher unequivocally stated that the civilian deaths are the “outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive.” He highlighted the overwhelming burden on emergency medical teams and the systemic nature of the crisis.
Echoing UN chief Antonio Guterres, Fletcher demanded immediate independent investigations and accountability. He called for the “open[ing of] the crossings — all of them,” the lifting of all restrictions on aid, and the implementation of a ceasefire to enable the UN to deliver critical assistance and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
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