News- middle East: A senior official of the United Nations Children's Fund’s (UNICEF) has described as “catastrophic” the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the urgent need for unrestricted access to basic supplies in the besieged enclave.

Hamish Young, UNICEF’s senior emergency coordinator in the Gaza Strip, made the remarks during an interview with Anadolu news agency on Friday, highlighting the critical need for both the quality and quantity of humanitarian aid entering the region.

Young went on to say that UNICEF urgently needs large quantities of food to address the effects of famine in northern Gaza, noting that Palestinians in Gaza need tents, plastic sheeting, clean drinking water, fuel, water production and distribution equipment, and pipes for well and desalination plant repairs. 

“There is an urgent need to do everything possible to bring in all the supplies I’m talking about,” he said, as he pointed out that nearly all hospitals have been severely damaged or destroyed, leading to extreme shortages of food and shelter for the residents.

Young further stated that there are 50 trucks waiting for permission to transport essential medical and hygiene supplies to save children's lives in Gaza, emphasizing the immediate need for these supplies to be delivered without delay. 

“The children of Gaza desperately need this support,” Young said. “We cannot sit and wait for supplies to come through.”

He also stated that under the ceasefire terms, 600 aid trucks, along with goods from private suppliers, are expected to enter Gaza daily, including around 50 fuel trucks and cooking gas trucks each day for essential daily living. 

Young further stressed the vital importance of safe access throughout Gaza to distribute aid, emphasizing the significance of freedom of movement to reach the most vulnerable children, their mothers, and families caring for them.

Israel had sealed all border crossings, blocking the entry of humanitarian aid and further deepening Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis since March 2, when the regime violated a previous ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

A US-mediated ceasefire went into effect last week.  Aid deliveries were expected to begin on October 12, once the Rafah crossing with Egypt reopens under the terms of the ceasefire.

However, thousands of aid trucks remain stalled on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing as Israel continues to prevent its reopening, linking it to the return of the remaining bodies of Israeli captives under the deal.

According to Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Gaza's Government Media Office, Israel has allowed 653 aid trucks into Gaza, far below the 600-truck daily quota stipulated in the agreement since the ceasefire took effect on October 10.

Israel permitted 173 aid trucks to enter on Sunday, including three carrying cooking gas and six with fuel, but no trucks were allowed in on Monday or Tuesday. The flow resumed on Wednesday with 480 trucks.

Since Israel launched its genocidal campaign on Gaza on October 7, 2023, approximately 68,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children, have been killed and over 170,000 wounded, mostly women and children.

Source: Press TV