London, May 21 — The United Nations’ top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, has issued an urgent appeal over the severely restricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning of an imminent catastrophe unless the blockade is meaningfully lifted.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Fletcher described the current level of aid being allowed in by Israeli authorities as “woefully insufficient”, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent announcement that minimal aid would be permitted to prevent a famine-level crisis.
Fletcher confirmed that only five trucks carrying humanitarian supplies—primarily baby food and essential nutritional items—were allowed into Gaza on Monday. However, he noted that these supplies have yet to reach civilians, as the trucks remain stationed just inside the border, far from the areas where the need is most acute.
“This is a drop in the ocean,” Fletcher said, emphasizing that the scale of humanitarian need in Gaza far exceeds the current supply. “We are staring down the possibility that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if critical aid fails to reach them in time.”
When questioned about the basis of the 14,000 figure, Fletcher explained, “We have strong teams on the ground – at clinics, in schools, and throughout the affected areas – conducting real-time assessments despite operating under extremely dangerous conditions. Tragically, many of our staff have already lost their lives.”
International pressure has been mounting on Israel over the 11-week blockade, which humanitarian agencies say has created famine-like conditions for large portions of Gaza’s population. Netanyahu’s decision to slightly ease the blockade followed growing alarm from global leaders, but critics argue that the move falls far short of what is needed to avert a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
The UN continues to call for unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian agencies, emphasizing that aid must not only cross borders but reach civilians in need without delay or obstruction.
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