Gaza: Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, warned the UN Security Council that the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate despite the ceasefire agreement, stressing the urgent need for increased humanitarian funding and unrestricted aid access.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, Fletcher spoke during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, held at the request of the ten non-permanent member states. He referred to Security Council Resolution 2803, which was adopted seven months ago concerning the ceasefire and a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Fletcher highlighted a decrease in the percentage of households going to bed hungry, dropping from 92 percent to 36 percent, which has moved Gaza from famine, IPC Phase 5, to severe crisis, IPC Phase 4. However, he emphasized that Palestinians in Gaza are still deprived of basic needs including safety, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education.
Despite the reduced active fighting, civilians continue to face fatalities and injuries from daily airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire. Since the ceasefire, nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 250 children, as reported by UNICEF.
Fletcher described Gaza as the most dangerous place on earth to deliver aid, with almost 600 aid workers killed there in nearly three years. He expressed concern over the dire living conditions, noting that 70 percent of the population requires proper shelter and essential services are nearing collapse.
Reports from WHO and UNICEF revealed that no hospital is fully operational, and water remains a daily uncertainty for 1.1 million children. Sanitation conditions are worsening, with an increase in rat-bite cases reported by doctors.
Fletcher underscored the challenges faced due to shortages of generators, engine oil, and spare parts, resulting in reliance on expensive alternatives like prolonged water trucking and complex medical evacuations. He urged the need to restore dignity in Gaza, beyond merely silencing weapons.