UN: Rafah Opening Without Aid Does Not Change Situation in Gaza

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) stated that to end the worsening humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, it is necessary to open without restrictions at all crossings for aid shipments.

The UN warned that opening the Rafah crossing only for individuals without humanitarian assistance would not change the deteriorating situation on the ground.

As reported by ANTARA from WAFA, Saturday, February 7, UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler said humanitarian supplies intended for Gaza were still being held in Egypt and Jordan, noting that Israel had blocked access to supplies to the region since March 2025.

Fowler emphasized that allowing people to enter, while aid shipments were prohibited, would not reduce the severe humanitarian conditions. According to him, the ongoing obstruction of aid supplies is one of the main reasons why suffering in Gaza still occurs.

He explained that the humanitarian situation had experienced a very limited and almost insignificant increase during the summer of 2025 compared to the peak of the crisis.

However, the small increase in aid and commercial goods is far from enough to compensate for the massive destruction caused by what he called a man-made humanitarian disaster.

Fowler revealed that children continue to suffer from hunger, medical supplies still do not meet the growing needs, and disease outbreaks continue amid the collapse of water and sanitation systems and an acute crisis of material for housing.

He noted that around 600 aid trucks per day were needed to support residents, warning that below that number basically meant the crisis continued, especially given the restrictions on the types of aid allowed in and the limited operating hours at the border.

Fowler said the continued ban on UNRWA duties after the ceasefire reflected a political choice that targeted the largest humanitarian organization operating in Gaza, regardless of its readiness, long experience, and extensive operational capacity.

He warned that the restrictions imposed on civil society organizations are aimed at limiting humanitarian tasks to certain actors who are willing to ignore violations.

At the same time, he emphasized that compliance with humanitarian principles, especially respect for international humanitarian law, must still be absolute.