Gaza winter aid: ‘No more delay’, Fletcher tells governments stalling on support

The UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as UN member states and partners have been repeatedly delaying sending their support to the Strip.

“Foreign Ministers and partners have assured me of support, but also repeatedly said that progress would be hard until after Israeli elections. Now we’re told to wait for the formation of a Government ,” he said.

“In case anyone has any doubt about international humanitarian law: this is not an acceptable excuse, as the international community and Board of Peace have made clear,” Mr. Fletcher stressed.

With winter underway, people living in Gaza are facing ever-harsher living conditions, including freezing temperatures and harsh storms which collapse or flood the tents thousands are living in.

“What makes this even more infuriating is that they are at this needless risk from weather that is not a threat where decent shelter exists . And would not be such a threat had we been able to supply decent tents and essential Winter kit,” Mr. Fletcher said.

The UN relief chief stressed that the UN had a “clear plan” for which supplies need to reach Gaza, “not in weeks, but weeks ago,” with each delay costing lives .

本文の著作権はUN Newsにあります。