The United Nations has been actively planning and preparing to scale up humanitarian aid for Gaza following the ceasefire. Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, revealed that the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, has met with both Israeli and Palestinian ministers, as well as the Egyptian Foreign Minister, to discuss the UN’s role in the ceasefire and the flow of aid.

Dujarric emphasized that the UN system is working intensively to ensure that humanitarian assistance can be delivered when the ceasefire comes into effect. However, he pointed out that many challenges remain, particularly concerning the opening of border crossings into Gaza and securing them for aid distribution. These issues are still under discussion, as many aid shipments have been targeted by looters and Israeli airstrikes.

The UN has expressed frustration over the persistent obstacles to delivering aid throughout the 15-month conflict. These obstacles include Israeli restrictions and lawlessness within Gaza, which have hindered the entry and distribution of much-needed relief. Dujarric noted that the UN and its partners are doing their best with very limited resources, but are continuously disrupted by ongoing violence, armed looting, damaged infrastructure, unexploded ordnance, and fuel shortages.

The spokesperson stressed the urgent need to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza through all available border crossings. He also called for the distribution of aid to be scaled up without delay and in the quantities required to address the dire needs of the Palestinian people.

According to internal UN documents and testimonies from humanitarian officials, the gangs operating in southern Gaza have emerged as a significant barrier to aid delivery. These gangs are reportedly operating freely in areas under Israeli military control, raising concerns about the potential protection they may be receiving, either implicitly or explicitly. This lawlessness is severely disrupting efforts to provide relief to the suffering population in Gaza.