Gaza – As the ceasefire enters into force, the United Nations calls for turning hope into immediate action

The office reported that thousands of displaced people resumed their movement towards their areas in the northern Gaza Strip – most of them on foot, within minutes of the Israeli authorities announcing the ceasefire would enter into force this afternoon, local time.

During a press conference in New York on Friday, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed the need “Opening additional crossings, safe movement of aid workers and all other civilians, unrestricted entry of goods, issuing visas to staff, and creating space for us and our NGO partners to operate, in line with humanitarian principles.” In order for the organization to implement its humanitarian plan outlined by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.

Mr. Dujarric emphasized that after two years of war, “There is an urgent need to rehabilitate infrastructure to enable recovery,” Adding that the private sector is also very important. He appealed to all leaders supporting the ceasefire to assist the United Nations in creating the necessary conditions to carry out humanitarian operations without hindrance and to support the response generously.

Mr. Fletcher had explained that the United Nations had 170,000 metric tons of supplies – including food and medicine – all ready to enter Gaza, with more aid in the pipeline. During the first sixty days of the ceasefire, the organization aims to increase the volume of incoming supplies to hundreds of trucks per day.

It is noteworthy that yesterday, humanitarian teams in Gaza collected essential supplies, including fuel, from the Kerem Shalom crossing, where they also unloaded incoming supplies to replenish stocks. “Which will be introduced in the coming days.” According to a UN spokesman.

Dujarric also stated that the Secretary-General of the United Nations made separate phone calls today with the Qatari Prime Minister, the Egyptian President, and the Jordanian King, to discuss the situation on the ground and implement the peace plan.

During the discussions, the Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations’ full support for implementing the plan, especially mobilizing full capabilities to deliver humanitarian aid.

A long-awaited glimmer of hope

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that news of the ceasefire was giving “A long-awaited glimmer of hope” For the children of Gaza, adding that this hope must be met with immediate and urgent action to end their suffering.

This is what its spokesman, Ricardo Perez, said at a press conference held in Geneva today, Friday, where he called on all parties to ensure the implementation of the agreement and achieve lasting peace.

Mr. Peres warned of danger “A significant increase in child mortality” Especially newborns and infants, because their immune systems ‘More vulnerable than ever’ Due to lack of proper food and nutrition for months and years.

The UNICEF spokesman added that the winter will be cold “killer” Also without sufficient shelter and clothing, recalling that a number of newborns died last year due to hypothermia.

Peres said that UNICEF has been preparing to confront this matter since July, and aims to distribute two bags of winter clothes to every child under the age of one, and to provide one million blankets for every child in Gaza.

He also confirmed that UNICEF has assistive devices – such as wheelchairs and crutches – for thousands of wounded children waiting to enter the Strip – something that has been prevented until now. He added that the organization is also ready to support the restoration of water supply, sanitation and solid waste management systems.

More than just words

The UNICEF spokesman stressed the need to use the ceasefire agreement to avoid malnutrition and the spread of famine throughout the Gaza Strip.

And he said: “UNICEF has the capacity to quickly improve the nutritional situation of 50,000 children under five, who are at high risk, and 60,000 pregnant and lactating mothers. We have done this in the past months, but we need to be able to flood Gaza with nutrition and treatment supplies. A true ceasefire must be more than just words. It must be sustainable and respected, with children’s rights at its heart. This means opening all crossings for humanitarian aid.” “Ensuring that the basic necessities for survival reach every child from North to South.”

Peres said that humanitarian relief is only the beginning, adding that children in Gaza also need schools reopened and play areas restored. “And time to recover from an unimaginable shock.”

When asked about the agency’s role in implementing the humanitarian aspect of the ceasefire agreement, Mr. Peiris said there were not enough details yet, but added: “We saw earlier this year when there was a ceasefire, what we can do in just months of peace and when the guns fall silent.”

Successful mission

Peres told reporters that UNICEF succeeded in carrying out a mission to rescue two children who were in incubators in Gaza City and returned them to their families after 15 hours of trying to reach them.

He pointed out that the two children were separated from their parents in mid-September and completed their treatment, adding that there are still 16 children in incubators in Gaza City waiting to be transferred to the south, but the agency does not have the permit to transfer them. He expressed his hope that this would happen soon.

There is no way forward without UNRWA

Participating in the press conference from the Jordanian capital, Amman, was Juliet Touma, head of media at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWAShe recalled that the agency has enough supplies in Jordan and Egypt to fill six thousand trucks and is ready to enter Gaza, but no progress has been made in achieving this.

She called for allowing the United Nations – including UNRWA – to do its work, adding that it would be “It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a humanitarian response of the scale required in Gaza without UNRWA.”

س In order: “Like any humanitarian worker, we thrive and live on hope. Therefore, we hope that pragmatism will prevail.”

Ms. Touma highlighted the role that UNRWA can play in resuming education for 660,000 boys and girls who have not attended school for two years, half of whom were UNRWA students before the war.

She stressed the importance of education not only in overcoming trauma and reconnecting “With what’s left of their childhood,” But also to acquire the necessary skills for the sector. She added: “When peace returns to the war-torn Strip, these children will be essential in rebuilding Gaza’s future.”

Ms. Touma also recalled that UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza, and has about 12,000 employees there, adding that the agency enjoys the trust of the community, “It is something that is often not talked about.”