New York: Amid escalating food crises in Gaza and Sudan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly denounced the use of hunger as a weapon of war. In a video message to the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Guterres emphasized that conflict-driven hunger is expanding beyond Gaza to other regions. He urged the international community to reject the use of hunger as a tool of conflict, highlighting its role in fueling instability and undermining peace efforts.
According to United Nations, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported an alarming increase in child malnutrition in Gaza, a situation exacerbated since March 2 when Israel imposed a near-total blockade. UNRWA expressed hope that Israel would permit the entry of thousands of trucks loaded with essential supplies, which have been blocked for months. This assertion follows a significant policy shift by the Israeli army, announcing a daily humanitarian pause in areas without troop activity, allowing aid to reach affected regions.
Recent developments saw a convoy of over 100 aid trucks entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, marking a crucial step in addressing the dire humanitarian needs. The humanitarian pause currently applies to a specific strip of Gaza, including Al-Mawasi, Deir Al-Balah, and Gaza City.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) underscored the urgent need for aid, with UN Emergency Relief Chief Tom Fletcher highlighting the severe conditions on the ground. Fletcher noted that one in three people in Gaza has not eaten for days, with many risking their lives to secure food for their families. He stressed the necessity of substantial aid to prevent famine and a catastrophic health crisis, emphasizing the need for continuous and rapid aid deliveries.
In a parallel development, customs restrictions on essential supplies from Egypt have reportedly been lifted, and secure routes for UN humanitarian convoys have been established. Fletcher called for sustained efforts to expedite aid clearances and ensure safe delivery to Gaza.
Meanwhile, in New York, France and Saudi Arabia initiated a diplomatic effort to revive the two-State solution between Israel and Palestine. This conference coincides with President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of France's intention to formally recognize Palestine by September, making it the first G7 nation to do so. The conference aims to build on the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution that proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, leading to the establishment of Israel in 1948.
