UN Emphasizes Vital Gaza Ceasefire for Humanitarian Aid Delivery: "Only Way to Save Lives"

The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10.

Switzerland:

Maintaining the Gaza ceasefire is essential for delivering crucial food aid in the territory, the United Nations stated Tuesday, reiterating calls for all border crossings to be opened.

The US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on October 10, however, on Sunday, the Israeli military conducted deadly strikes on Gaza following apparent truce violations by the Palestinian armed group.

"Sustaining the ceasefire is vital; it is truly the only way we can save lives and combat famine in northern Gaza," Abeer Etefa, Middle East spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Programme, informed reporters in Geneva.

"We recognize the ceasefire is fragile; the most crucial thing is that it continues."

Etefa reported that since the ceasefire implementation, 530 WFP trucks had entered Gaza, delivering more than 6,700 tonnes of food, which she indicated was "sufficient for nearly half a million people for two weeks".

Approximately 750 tonnes daily are now being transported through, which, while greater than before the ceasefire, remains significantly below WFP's target of around 2,000 tonnes per day.

"Convoys are advancing, food is reaching warehouses, and distributions are occurring in an organized and dignified manner," she said.

'Survival Mode'

The spokeswoman indicated that WFP now has 26 food distribution points operational in Gaza, increased from five on Friday, but still far short of the 145 it aims to establish throughout the territory. Most are located in the south and center of the Strip.

"The response has been truly overwhelming," Etefa said.

"People are arriving in large numbers, grateful for the efficiency of food assistance as well as the dignified process of people standing in line, quickly receiving the food rations."

She mentioned that nine out of the 30 bakeries WFP aims to supply were functioning, but would require significantly larger quantities of wheat flour coming across the border.

"As we speak, half a million people are benefiting from fresh bread," said Etefa.

"The positive aspect is that we're reaching the most vulnerable," particularly women heads of households and elderly individuals.

She noted that Gazans were in "survival mode," consuming only some of the food received, and preserving the rest as they are "extremely concerned" that the ceasefire might collapse.

Etefa stated that WFP trucks were only passing through the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings, but called for all entry points into the Palestinian territory to be opened, especially those in the north, where the food situation "is extremely dire".

"We don't have any indication when those border points will be opened," she added.