UN Calls for Easing Gaza Aid Restrictions Amid Ongoing Operations
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United Nations has called for the lifting of restrictions to allow for widespread aid delivery to Gaza. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, addressed the latest developments in Gaza during a daily press briefing at the organization’s headquarters in New York.
Dujarric announced that UN teams conducted 10 humanitarian operations in the past day, coordinated with Israeli authorities in areas still under Israeli military presence. These operations were aimed at facilitating the transfer of humanitarian aid that had entered through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. The shipments included essential items such as food, vaccines, fuel, and medical equipment.
Emphasizing the UN’s readiness to expand the scope of humanitarian operations in Gaza, Dujarric noted that this expansion is contingent upon the removal of current barriers and limitations. He pointed to restrictions such as the prohibition of importing certain vital equipment, including debris-clearing machinery and robust construction materials for shelters, as well as movement limitations in specific areas, which impact the aid teams’ ability to reach areas in need.
In parallel, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has commenced operations to collect solid waste from densely populated areas of Gaza City. This waste is being transported to a temporary site covering approximately 75,000 square meters to streamline waste management processes and contribute to improving sanitary and environmental conditions in the Gaza Strip. Further details regarding logistics, disposal sites, and environmental criteria related to these operations will be provided to journalists by the UNDP team.
The UN spokesperson also reported on the continued facilitation of movement through the Rafah crossing since its reopening in early February, stating that over 500 individuals, including patients, their companions, and some returning Gaza residents, have passed through the crossing to date. Responding to journalists’ questions about the specifics of the restrictions, he reiterated the issues concerning debris-clearing equipment, certain construction materials, and movement limitations in designated zones.
