UNRWA Urges Humanitarian Access To Gaza To Open: Aid Piles Up In Warehouse

ILLUSTRATION/Israel Attack On Gaza/DOK UNICEF

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) urged that humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip be opened immediately, following the accumulation of food and logistics aid that could not be distributed due to the Israeli blockade.

In a statement via platform X on Saturday (20/7), UNRWA stated it had sufficient food supply for the entire population of Gaza for three months. The aid is now stuck in storage warehouses, including in Al Arish, Egypt, and has not yet obtained permission to enter the Gaza region.

UNRWA memiliki cukup makanan bagi seluruh populasi Gaza selama tiga bulan yang menumpuk di gudang penyimpanan termasuk di Al Arish, Mesir dan menunggu diizinkan diperbolehkan, tulis badan tersebut.

Although ready with logistics and distribution systems, entry access for UNRWA is still blocked. In a firm statement, UNRWA called for the gates to be opened and the siege to end immediately.

"Open the gate, end the siege, allow UNRWA to do its job and help those in need, including one million children," the statement said.

Since Israel imposed a full blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2, 2025, more than two million Palestinians have been isolated from access to essential aid such as food, medicine, and other emergency equipment. The data show that nearly 59,000 Palestinians the majority of women and children have died as a result of the ongoing military aggression.

Although it had opened limited aid lines at the end of May under international pressure, Israel had not yet granted UNRWA operational permits to distribute the aid. Instead, the Israeli government appointed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as the main operator of the distribution of aid to institutions that had previously drawn controversy due to a number of fatal incidents at the distribution site.

Sejumlah laporan menyebutkan bahwa ratusan warga Gaza meninggal dunia saat menantret atau mencoba mendapatkan bantuan dari pusat distribusi yang dikelola GHF.

UNRWA stated its commitment to continue distributing aid fairly and safely, but stressed that it can only be done if humanitarian access is fully opened.