UN Aid Chief Welcomes Israel’s ‘Humanitarian Pauses’ to Deliver Aid in Gaza

GENEVA, July 27: The United Nations’ humanitarian chief has welcomed Israel’s announcement of temporary “humanitarian pauses” and the opening of secure land routes into Gaza to allow aid deliveries to the besieged enclave.

“Welcome the announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through,” UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a post on X.
He added, “We are in contact with our teams on the ground and will do all we can to reach as many starving people as possible during this window.”

The announcement comes amid warnings from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that conditions in Gaza are “already catastrophic and deteriorating fast.”

“The starvation crisis is deepening,” OCHA said, noting that hunger and malnutrition significantly increase the risk of illness and could soon “turn deadly.”

OCHA stressed that the “trickle of supplies” entering Gaza remains far from adequate to meet the massive humanitarian needs.

The agency said its teams are ready to scale up aid delivery once crossings are opened and safety is ensured.
“If Israel opens the crossings, allows fuel and equipment in, and ensures safe access for humanitarian staff, the UN will accelerate the delivery of food aid, health services, clean water, nutrition supplies, and shelter materials,” OCHA added.

However, it noted that restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have severely hampered relief operations. On Thursday, out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza, four were denied outright, three were impeded, one was postponed, and two were canceled—leaving only five missions successful.

On Friday, OCHA also issued a comprehensive aid delivery plan in preparation for a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.