5 hours ago
Last Updated:May 20, 2025, 16:57 IST
The UN warned that trickling of aid, most of which is blocked by Israel, will not help in staving off the famine that is looming over war-torn Gaza.
Palestinian boy Osama Al-Reqep, 5, lies on a bed at Nasser Hospital where he receives treatment, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip, due to which there is an embargo on aid flow into the blockaded, war-torn coastal enclave for the past 11 weeks, needs to be lifted in order to prevent the death of 14,000 babies in 48 hours.
Speaking to broadcaster BBC, Fletcher said the trickling down of aid, which came after Israel allowed limited aid to pour into Gaza after pressure from allies including the US, Canada, France and the United Kingdom, is a mere “drop in the ocean".
“There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them…We run all sorts of risks trying to get that baby food through to those mothers who cannot feed their children right now because they’re malnourished," he said while speaking to BBC’s Radio .
While Israel has previously imposed sieges during past military operations like Operation Cast Lead in 2008 and Operation Protective Edge in 2014, humanitarian agencies say the current restrictions are the most severe. In both earlier offensives, Gaza saw intense bombardment and tight control over aid and essential supplies, but limited relief still managed to reach civilians. This time the humanitarian crisis has escalated to levels aid workers say are unlike anything seen in previous conflicts.
“Today, nine of our trucks were cleared to enter, via the Kerem Shalom crossing," Fletcher said in a statement Monday.
“Given ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant," he added.
“The limited quantities of aid now being allowed into Gaza are of course no substitute for unimpeded access to civilians in such dire need."
Israel on Monday said five aid trucks had so far entered Gaza.
Location :Gaza City, Palestinian Territories
First Published:News world ‘14,000 Babies Dead In 48 Hours’: UN Warns Israel Over Gaza Siege, Aid Embargo
