Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has called on the UN to increase efforts to get desperately needed aid into Gaza.
In a meeting with UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths in Geneva, Amir-Abdollahian said, “The amount of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza is very small and almost zero.”
He added that it is necessary for the United Nations to take “immediate and serious action in this regard.”
Amir-Abdollahian called for “strong and urgent management by the UN to remove the blockage at the Rafah border crossing and get humanitarian aid into Gaza” during his meeting with Griffiths.
While the first delivery of fuel to Gaza since the war broke out crossed the border of Egypt today, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that it was “not at all enough.”
Also, the Foreign Minister asserted that the UN can count upon Iran’s capacities for the establishment of peace and security in the region.
Later, Griffiths issued a statement detailing a “comprehensive” response plan for the intense humanitarian needs in Gaza.
“The warring parties must respect international humanitarian law, agree to a humanitarian ceasefire and stop the fighting,” the statement read.
Among others, the plan calls for the safe and continuous flow of aid convoys, the expansion of safe shelters, and the opening of additional border crossings, including the Karem Abu Salem crossing (called Kerem Shalom by Israel).
“These are the actions required to rein in the carnage,” the statement noted.
“The world must act before it is too late,” it added, calling on “the parties [at war], all those who have influence over them, and the broader international community” to do everything in their power to support and implement the plan.
First Fuel Truck Enters Gaza
Egypt’s state-run television station reported that the first fuel truck to enter the Gaza Strip since the war started has crossed the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing.
The truck reportedly headed to Kerem Shalom crossing for screening. Israel barred fuel shipments after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, saying the militant group would divert the supplies for military use.
Thomas White, the director of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), posted on social media, “Just received 23,027 litres of fuel from Egypt (half a tanker) – but its use has been restricted by Israeli authorities – only for transporting aid from Rafah.”
“No fuel for water or hospitals. This is only 9% of what we need daily to sustain lifesaving activities,” he added.
About an hour prior, White disclosed that water pumps and sewage treatment in the south of the Gaza Strip have stopped due to lack of fuel.
“In Rafah all (10) water wells have stopped pumping – the only source of water in the city – why? – no fuel. The Khan Younis desalination plant has stopped working – supplies drinking water for 100,000s of people – why? – no fuel. No sewage pumping in Rafah all (3) sewage pumps have stopped working – simply because they ran out of fuel.”
Thomas White
Gaza health officials have suspended operations at many of the enclave’s hospitals due to lack of fuel and other supplies.
Colonel Moshe Terto, who heads an Israeli defence ministry body that handles civil affairs in Gaza, said Israel is monitoring the fuel situation “on a daily basis.”
“(We) will coordinate and facilitate the entrance of fuel when it (is) needed,” Terto said.
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