The only effective and efficient way to transport heavy goods to meet humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip is by road, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Following a meeting with the Egyptian President and his Foreign Minister in Cairo, Mr Guterres warned of the impact of the war in Gaza on the whole world, as the daily assault on the human dignity of the Palestinians was leading to a crisis of credibility for the international community.
Guterres visited Egypt and Jordan as part of his annual Ramadan solidarity tour of Muslim countries and also inspected the backlog of aid destined for the Palestinian territory on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, which he described as a "moral disgrace". More border crossings and access points were needed. UN aid organisations accuse Israel of obstructing the aid deliveries, which Israel denies.
First airdrop of aid supplies over the Gaza Strip. Photo: German Armed Forces
Mr Guterres went on to say that the United Nations was working hard to maintain funding for its Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Several countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and the United States, have suspended their financial aid to UNRWA after Israel accused some of the agency's staff in Gaza of being involved in the Hamas attack in Israel on 7 October 2023. Germany is currently not authorising any new aid funds.
The C-130J-Herkules aircraft deployed. Photo: Lockheed Martin
As hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan have not materialised and the risk of famine in the coastal enclave continues to rise, the United States and other countries, including Germany, are delivering aid by air and in future also by ship via a floating pier that is currently being built.
It remains true that aid supplies can generally be distributed more easily, more quickly and more extensively by road transport. However, reality also shows that overland transport of relief supplies in contested regions is almost impossible. Alternative air and especially sea transport can at least help to prevent the worst. In view of the impasse in the Gaza Strip, it is actually necessary - and will probably remain so for some time to come - to pursue all avenues of humanitarian aid with maximum vigour and absolute determination.
Logo UNRWA
The UN Secretary-General's current, one-sided view of wanting to bring aid to Gaza exclusively by road transport seems like an "alternative reality". And the credibility crisis has long been there, also for the UN itself and its aid organisation UNRWA, also because the reason for this war is no longer even mentioned in announcements.
It is of course easier to point the finger at a democratic country than to forcefully call on the terrorist Hamas to finally release all the hostages.
Source: gCaptain
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