BoP Representative Nickolay Mladenov Says Restrictions on Israel Border Halt Aid Delivery

Nickolay Mladenov said Israel's tight restrictions on the border were the main obstacle to the entry of aid into Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons - Vanco Dzambaski)

JAKARTA - Representative of the Board of Peace/Board of Peace (BoP) Nickolay Mladenov on Friday (17/4) said Israel's strict restrictions on the border were the main obstacle preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Mladenov told Al-Qahera News that there were layered challenges that hindered the sustainable and adequate distribution of aid to residents.

He warned that the previous distribution mechanism for aid had been destroyed, while alternative systems were not yet available.

Mladenov stressed that Israel's restrictions at border crossings, particularly with regard to goods classified as "dual-use goods", were "the biggest obstacle".

He noted that the policy was used to limit the entry of important goods needed by civilians and the health sector.

Another major challenge is the deployment of Israeli forces inside Gaza, with more than half of the territory still under Israeli control.

"The distribution system for previous aid was destroyed by the war. An effective alternative to reach the population has not been formed, which creates a major logistical problem," he said as quoted by Antara.

Mladenov also highlighted that despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis, international attention has decreased due to developments in the region.

While welcoming the commitment of funds from BoP member countries, including Egypt, the United States, and the Gulf countries, he said the real challenge was to translate these commitments into real assistance on the ground.

The BoP official also called for accelerating the delivery of temporary housing units to accommodate civilians and stressed the need for urgent intervention to rebuild Gaza's health sector.

Mladenov also highlighted the importance of returning children who have long been out of school to the education system, warning that prolonged disruption could have serious long-term impacts.