The senior coordinator humanitarian aid of UN for the GauzeSigrid Kaach, yesterday Wednesday informed the members of the Security Council about the situation in the region.
In recent months, Ms Kaach discussed detailed proposals with his governments IsraelJordan, Egypt and Cyprus, to expedite and streamline the delivery of goods to Gaza and ensure a consistent supply corridor for safe distribution throughout the Gaza Strip.
As far as Cyprus is concerned, Sigrid said that “the sea corridor of Cyprus has worked additively in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. But it can never replace overland deliveries. “Overland routes are the only way to transport the bulk of the necessary supplies.”
“Preparations for the construction (…) of a jetty on the shores of Gaza are progressing, with the participation of the US and other member states. The UN has outlined the parameters under which it can play an important role in the distribution of aid through this corridor. My office has proposed a multi-donor funding mechanism and is providing secretariat support to the sea corridor to ensure full coordination with operations on the ground in Gaza. UN observers have been deployed in Cyprus as part of the 2720 Mechanism,” stressed Sigrid Kaach.
For the coordinator, UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is vital in providing life-saving humanitarian aid and basic social services, particularly health and education, to Palestinian refugees.
“Therefore, UNRWA is irreplaceable and indispensable as a humanitarian lifeline and must be allowed to fulfill its mandate,” he insisted.
It said that on April 5, the Israeli government made several commitments to improve aid delivery, responding to requests from the UN and the international community. A number of measures have been taken, including an increase in the amount of aid cleared, inspected and passed into Gaza, the temporary opening of the Eretz crossing and the opening of Ashdod port for humanitarian goods, an increase in the number of trucks entering Gaza directly from Jordan via bridge as well as increased access to the North, the preparation of other northern crossings, the continued use of Gate 96, the extension of operating hours at the Kerem Shalom and Nitsana crossings, the resumption of bakery operations in northern and central Gaza, and the repair of the Nahal Oz water supply line.
During the briefing Mrs. Kaah also pointed out that the UN is in contact with the Israeli government for other measures that need urgent or continuous implementation. These include issues related to checkpoints, road repair, timely clearances to allow humanitarian convoy movements to take place as planned, approval of additional communication devices, armored vehicles and spare parts for critical equipment. He reiterated that the implementation of the agreement on the evacuation of doctors and wounded is equally urgent.
“Delivering aid at scale requires a functioning humanitarian notification system – and improved and direct communication between humanitarian and military decision makers on the ground. Effective and reliable de-escalation is vital for all humanitarian actors in the field. This list of key measures is not exhaustive. The implementation is urgent,” said Ms. Kaah.
