CAIRO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday in Cairo that delivering the necessary aid to famine-threatened Gaza “requires Israel removing the remaining obstacles and chokepoints to relief”.
During a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, UN chief Antonio Guterres reiterated the urgent need for Israel to remove obstacles hindering the delivery of essential aid to famine-threatened Gaza.
Guterres emphasized that providing crucial assistance to Gaza’s population necessitates the removal of remaining obstacles and chokepoints imposed by Israel on relief efforts. He underscored the dire humanitarian situation facing Palestinian children, women, and men in Gaza, urging for immediate action to alleviate their suffering.
The UN chief’s remarks came after his visit to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Saturday, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of nearly six months of Israeli bombardment and siege on the territory’s 2.4 million inhabitants. Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been decimated, and the majority of its population has been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
Looming Famine in Gaza
Guterres painted a grim picture of Gaza’s plight, likening it to a landscape ravaged by the “four horsemen of war, famine, conquest, and death.” He stressed the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire to silence the guns and provide respite to Gaza’s besieged population.
The Israeli government faces mounting international pressure to ease its military campaign and ground offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands, including many women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Since October 7, Israel has intensified its military operations, advancing all the way to Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are seeking refuge near the Egyptian border.
Guterres emphasized the critical role of the Rafah border crossing and Egypt’s El-Arish airport as vital lifelines for delivering life-saving aid into Gaza. However, he lamented that these essential arteries for humanitarian assistance are currently clogged, with trucks piled up on the Egyptian side, leading to delays in aid delivery.
Guterres urged for swift action to fulfill promises of substantial aid to Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of delivering aid on a large scale to avert a looming famine in the territory.
The UN has repeatedly warned of the risk of famine in Gaza, particularly in the northern regions that have been largely cut off from essential aid deliveries.
