Kuwait City: United Nations Under-Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher on Tuesday stressed his refusal to return to pre-ceasefire conditions in Gaza, calling for the protection of civilians and the need to provide necessary needs in accordance with international law. Fletcher's statement came during a briefing delivered via video during a session held by the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in the Middle East, at the request of Algeria and Somalia.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Fletcher expressed concern over the situation in Gaza, highlighting that "our worst fears" materialized as Israeli air strikes affected all parts of the Gaza Strip, resulting in hundreds of casualties and new evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces. Fletcher pointed out the obstruction of life-saving supplies by Israeli forces, which has prevented aid from reaching 1.2 million people in the Strip since March 2. He explained, "Our repeated requests to collect aid at the Karam Abu Salem crossing have been systematically rejected, food is spoiling, and medicine is about to expire." Fletcher warned that the blockade of essential and commercial goods would have a catastrophic impact on the people of Gaza, who rely heavily on a continuous flow of aid.
Fletcher further elaborated that humanitarian workers continue to distribute the remaining supplies inside Gaza to those most in need. He emphasized, "We cannot tolerate this situation for much longer unless the crossings are reopened for aid to enter." Fletcher advocated for a ceasefire as the optimal solution to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza, protect civilians on both sides, release prisoners, and facilitate the entry of aid and commercial supplies.