UN Secretary General Highlights Israel's Commitment to Increasing Access to Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

The UN humanitarian aid convoy has entered northern Gaza. (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - Israel's commitment to increasing access to aid in the Gaza Strip has had limited or sometimes zero impact, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Thursday, encouraging urgent, meaningful and measurable progress to prevent famine.

The UN has long complained of obstacles in obtaining and distributing aid throughout Gaza, which has been hit by the Palestinian militant group Hamas' war with Israel for the past six months.

"To prevent imminent famine, and deaths from preventable disease, we need a quantum leap in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Food is essential; so are clean water, sanitation and health services," Guterres said at the meeting UN Security Council, reported by Reuters, April 19.

Israel recently reopened the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and allowed temporary use of Ashdod Port in southern Israel, after US President Joe Biden demanded steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying US support for Israel was possible if the country not taking action.

"Real progress in one area is often undone due to delays and restrictions in other areas," Guterres explained.

"For example, although Israeli authorities have permitted more aid convoys, these permits are often granted when it is too late to make deliveries and return safely," he explained.

"So the impact is limited, sometimes nil," said Guterres.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said progress had been made and the US would continue to pressure Israel to facilitate more humanitarian aid.

"This is a work in progress. We have seen some movement over the last few weeks to improve the humanitarian situation, but there is still much to be done," he explained.

"We put tremendous pressure on Israel to take responsibility and they were responsive," he added.

Secretary General Guterres said three World Food Program (WFP) convoys, a total of 25 trucks, were permitted to use the Erez crossing on April 14, 15 and 16. He also said that the operational hours for the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana crossings had been extended by Israel, but due to problems in Gaza this was not possible.

"The UN and aid groups need to use all possible routes and crossings into and across the Gaza region, also requiring full and active Israeli facilitation in aid operations" and better and more direct communication between humanitarian agencies and military decision makers. on the ground," Guterres said.