UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the crucial role of land transportation in delivering essential goods to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis during a statement on Sunday (Mar 24).
Following discussions with Egypt’s president and foreign minister in Cairo, Guterres highlighted the global repercussions of the conflict in Gaza, stating, “The daily assault on the human dignity of Palestinians is creating a crisis of credibility for the international community.”
As part of his annual Ramazan solidarity tour to Muslim nations, Guterres visited Egypt and Jordan, underscoring the urgency of addressing the aid backlog at the Egypt-Gaza border.
Despite months of conflict between Israel and Hamas severely impacting Gaza, aid donations have accumulated in Egypt’s northern Sinai, with only limited quantities passing through designated crossings.
With hopes for a Ramadan ceasefire dwindling and the risk of famine rising, efforts to deliver aid via air drops and ships have been initiated. However, UN aid officials emphasize the necessity of land routes for significant scaling up of deliveries, accusing Israel of hindering relief efforts, a claim Israel refutes.
Guterres asserted that facilitating land transportation requires the removal of remaining obstacles and the establishment of additional access points. He emphasized the importance of an exponential increase in commercial deliveries as the most efficient and effective means to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs.
Guterres also addressed the funding challenges facing UNRWA, the primary provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Following accusations by Israel, some countries, including the United States and Britain, temporarily halted funding. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini expressed regret over Washington’s decision to continue its funding ban until at least March 2025, stating, “It’s a halt for a limited period. Next year, we again have the possibility to apply pressure for a new decision.”
