53 Countries and Organizations Call on Occupation to Allow Rapid Humanitarian Aid Access to Gaza

New York, November 12 (KUNA) – Fifty-three countries and organizations on Thursday called on the Israeli occupation to allow rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip through all available border crossings and land routes, warning of a worsening humanitarian and health situation as winter approaches.

This was stated in a joint statement read by the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sarah Mackintosh, before journalists at the UN headquarters in New York, on behalf of the countries and organizations joining the UK-, Qatar-, and Jordan-led initiative on health and humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

Mackintosh warned that a large number of the Strip’s residents still lack adequate shelter as winter sets in, exposing them to risks of hypothermia, respiratory illnesses, waterborne diseases, and other preventable conditions. She explained that restrictions on the entry of essential shelter materials and other life-saving supplies are hindering humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond to growing needs at the required scale.

She noted that the comprehensive peace plan approved by the UN Security Council under Resolution 2803 stipulates the immediate and full entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip at levels no less than those agreed upon on January 19, 2025, emphasizing that this commitment has not yet been fulfilled.

The statement called for ensuring the full and stable operation of Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridors and allowing the entry of additional essential materials, including those classified as dual-use items, particularly those related to shelter, fuel, water, sanitation, and medical supplies, to prevent further deterioration in public health. It also called for the reactivation of the medical referral pathway to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank for patients and injured individuals who cannot receive appropriate treatment within the Gaza Strip.

The statement stressed the necessity of protecting healthcare workers, medical facilities, and medical transport, as well as ensuring the protection of humanitarian sites, the safety of humanitarian workers, civilians, and infrastructure.

The participating countries and organizations called for prompt and transparent criminal investigations into attacks targeting workers in the health and humanitarian sectors, and for allowing high-level international delegations and journalists to enter the Gaza Strip.

Mackintosh reaffirmed the participating countries’ and organizations’ commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts in the Strip, particularly urgent winter preparedness and alleviating the suffering of the population amid dire humanitarian conditions.

She reiterated the vital role of the United Nations, its agencies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and neutral international humanitarian organizations in delivering aid to those in need, as stipulated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803. (End) A.S.T./M.M.J.