Displaced Palestinians scuffle for a portion of hot food at a charity kitchen at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on May 5, 2025. The humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip has worsened significantly since Israel blocked all aid from entering the territory on March 2, days before resuming its military campaign following the collapse of a ceasefire. -- Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP
NEW YORK (Bernama-WAFA): The United Nations called on world leaders to provide food to civilians in the Gaza Strip, as Israel's "comprehensive blockade" of the territory enters its ninth week.
This came in a statement issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday, commenting on Israel's plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The statement stressed that the plan "contradicts basic humanitarian principles", according to Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA).
It added that UN teams are ready to distribute essential supplies and services, such as food, water, healthcare, and nutrition in Gaza.
It added, "We have a large amount of stock ready to be distributed as soon as the blockade is lifted. We call on world leaders to use their influence to make this happen. Now is the time to lift the blockade."
The statement noted that the Israeli plan endangers civilian lives and humanitarian aid efforts and promotes forced displacement.
It warned that attempts to divert civilians to conflict zones to receive food aid mean that "large parts of Gaza will remain without food."
Since March 2, Israel has closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to the entry of food, relief, medical aid, and goods, causing a significant deterioration in the humanitarian situation of Palestinians, according to government, human rights, and international reports. - Bernama-WAFA
