United Nations: We seize every opportunity to save lives in Gaza despite “bureaucratic obstacles”

Tom Fletcher said in a statement marking the one-month anniversary of the ceasefire that humanitarian operations include:

⬅️Providing food to more than one million people.

⬅️ Reopening feeding sites and resuming vital vaccination campaigns.

⬅️ Repairing water lines and bringing hospitals back to work.

⬅️Distribution of winter clothes and blankets and provision of psychological support services.

However, Fletcher stressed that “many obstacles” remain, including bureaucratic hurdles, the need to empower partner organizations and open more crossings and routes, and dealing with continuing insecurity.

He stressed that “We can do so much more to save more lives when these restrictions are eased.”

Despite the fragile situation and continuing obstacles on the ground, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to access areas that were inaccessible before the ceasefire.

⬅️Between 7 November and yesterday Monday, UNOPS distributed more than 619,000 liters of diesel to UN partners – three-quarters in the south and the rest in the north – to support critical operations, including in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, health, logistics, debris removal, education, nutrition and protection.

⬅️Between 1 November and Sunday, UN humanitarian partners provided general food assistance to some 255,000 people, with two food rations distributed to each family.

⬅️One month into the ceasefire, UN food security partners are distributing approximately 160,000 loaves of bread daily, produced by 19 UN-supported bakeries, including nine in northern Gaza.

Deputy Relief Coordinator concludes a visit to Jordan

Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, concluded a visit to Jordan where she met with senior government officials and humanitarian partners. Ms. Msuya stressed that Jordan’s leadership in humanitarian work is an example to many – from facilitating the arrival of aid to receiving refugees.

Yesterday, Monday, Ms. Msuya visited Baqaa camp outside the capital, Amman, and expressed her deep gratitude to the government of Jordan for hosting waves of Palestinians over the decades. While in Baqa’a, she spoke with refugee families and visited a health center and girls’ school run by UNRWA, whose work provides a lifeline to millions across the region.

Ms. Msuya also met with ambassadors in Amman ahead of the Cairo conference on Gaza, hosted by Egypt later this month. She stressed that the humanitarian response must be linked to recovery and reconstruction to achieve lasting impact, and emphasized that international humanitarian law is non-negotiable, and that frontline responders need our full support.