“We emphasize again that all parties must refrain from any activities that put civilians, including humanitarian workers, at risk..”
Despite the insecurity, UN operations have managed to transfer significant volumes of aid to the enclave. Under the so-called UN 2720 delivery mechanism, authorized by the Security Council, more than 24,000 metric tons of aid – including food, medicine, nutritional supplements and shelter materials – have been collected at Gaza crossings since the truce began several weeks ago.
Looting decreases
Encouragingly, looting and interception of aid has decreased dramatically. Between October 10 and 28, Only five percent of supplies were intercepted, compared to around 80 percent in the months before the ceasefire..
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also delivered more than 840 pallets of vital medical supplies, including insulin, surgical kits and essential medicines, and is supporting nutrition services to treat some 2,500 children.
But Mr. Dujarric warned that Gaza health system remains “under immense pressure”and the local Ministry of Health reported that more than 1,700 health workers have died since the start of the war.
In education, agencies are working to restore “minimum teaching and learning conditions” for more than 630,000 school-age children who have missed more than two years of school.
More than 90 classrooms have been rehabilitated, although Israeli restrictions on educational materials continue to hamper efforts.
“We continue to ask that all crossing points be open. and more UN agencies and organizations authorized to bring relief supplies to Gaza,” Dujarric said.
Fragile window to resume food production
Despite the catastrophic destruction in Gaza’s agricultural lands, the current ceasefire has created a fragile but vital window to revive food production, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and satellite agency UNOSAT said on Thursday.
New satellite analysis shows Nearly 87 percent of cropland, 80 percent of greenhouses and nearly 87 percent of irrigation wells have been damaged. since the beginning of the conflict. But the pause in fighting has opened access to 37 percent of affected agricultural land – of which some 600 hectares remain intact – allowing farmers to begin rehabilitating their land.
“The ceasefire has opened a window of opportunity,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol. “Urgent support is needed to restore agricultural land and infrastructure, enable farmers to resume fresh food production, and rebuild fisheries and livestock so families can feed themselves again.”
FAO highlighted that rebuilding food systems now could help stabilize livelihoods and prevent deeper hunger in Gaza.
However, its $75 million appeal to support recovery remains only 10 percent funded, underscoring the need for rapid international support to seize this brief moment of hope amid widespread devastation.