The United Nations’ aid chief, Tom Fletcher, has described the task of restoring basic necessities in the devastated Gaza Strip as a “massive, massive job”. Fletcher, who is also the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, made the comments during a tour of the Gaza Strip, where he witnessed firsthand the extent of the destruction caused by two years of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.
The densely populated cities of Gaza have been reduced to ruins, with widespread destruction of homes, schools, and infrastructure. According to the UN humanitarian office, nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, and over 2 million people have been displaced. Fletcher met with residents who are struggling to survive in the midst of the devastation, with many forced to dig latrines in the ruins of their homes.
The UN aid chief emphasized the need for dignity and basic necessities, stating, “They’re telling me most of all they want dignity.” He highlighted the importance of restoring power, sanitation, and healthcare systems to the affected areas. The UN has launched a 60-day plan to surge in food, get a million meals out there a day, start to rebuild the health sector, bring in tents for the winter, and get hundreds of thousands of kids back into school.
The ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump has led to a significant increase in aid entering Gaza, with over 950 trucks carrying aid and commercial supplies crossing into Gaza from Israel. However, relief agencies are calling for the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to be reopened to speed up the flow of food, fuel, and medicines. Turkey has also sent a team of rescue specialists to help find bodies in the rubble.
