Gaza: United Nations relief chief Tom Fletcher has welcomed the recent US peace initiative for Gaza, saying it could open vital pathways to deliver urgent humanitarian aid and help save lives.
Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said the world body is “prepared and eager to work, in a practical and principled way, to seize this moment for peace.”
He emphasized that ending hostilities, restoring order, and ensuring safe humanitarian access remain crucial priorities. “As during the last ceasefire in March, our teams, networks, and supplies are ready to be mobilized swiftly and effectively,” he said, according to Xinhua news agency.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Fletcher heads, stressed that removing barriers for essential goods and global NGOs remains key. He added that enabling the private sector to operate on a larger scale is also critical, since humanitarian relief alone cannot address the vast needs in Gaza.
Reconstruction, consistent funding, and repairing damaged infrastructure will be essential to sustain progress, Fletcher noted.
Despite these appeals, OCHA warned that Israeli bombardment continues in Gaza City and across the Strip. The UN Human Rights Office reported that Israeli strikes in Deir al-Balah between Wednesday and Sunday killed at least 89 Palestinians in a dozen separate incidents.
The humanitarian situation remains dire. Gaza’s health authorities said 175 people—including 35 children—have died of malnutrition since famine was declared in August. More than 4,000 displaced residents are currently sheltering in UN-run facilities, while dozens of other shelters have become inaccessible or were evacuated. Only one of OCHA’s five medical stations in Gaza City remains operational.
