May 16, 2025, 10:28 PM
GAZA STRIP — The United Nations announced today that it is ready to deliver over 171,000 metric tons of food and critical supplies to Gaza, an amount sufficient to sustain the entire population of the besieged enclave for at least four months. The statement comes as humanitarian needs in Gaza remain dire, with over two million Palestinians facing acute food insecurity, homelessness, and a lack of basic services following more than a year of conflict.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, emphasized the urgency of the situation during a press briefing. "We have the resources on hand and the capacity to act immediately and efficiently," Haq said. "With these stocks alone, we could feed all of Gaza for months—likely at least four—but we need Israel to open the crossings for our trucks to enter." He highlighted the UN's successful aid distribution during a brief ceasefire in February 2025, when the World Food Programme (WFP) delivered over 10 million metric tonnes of food, reaching one million people in just two weeks.
The announcement follows a recent escalation in tensions after Israel broke a ceasefire agreement in March 2025, resuming its bombing campaign in Gaza and killing over 400 people in a single night, according to Al Jazeera. The ceasefire, which began on January 19, 2025, had allowed a surge in humanitarian aid, but its collapse has once again restricted access to the enclave. A December 2023 food security assessment by the WFP underscored the scale of the crisis, noting that 1.8 million people—nearly 80% of Gaza’s population—were internally displaced, with many living in overcrowded UNRWA shelters under dire sanitary conditions.
Complicating the situation further, a May 5, 2025, report by The Washington Post revealed Israel’s plan to take control of aid distribution in Gaza, relying on private American security contractors to oversee the process. The proposal includes inspecting trucks at the Kerem Shalom crossing and using facial recognition technology at distribution hubs, measures that aid agencies warn could undermine humanitarian principles, endanger workers, and limit access for Palestinians. Each hub would serve 5,000 to 6,000 households, with representatives collecting a 44-pound parcel of food and hygiene items every two weeks—a system critics argue is insufficient and logistically unfeasible.
"Time is critical," Haq stressed. "Every day, more children go hungry. What we need now is for the plan we’ve been advocating to be approved." The UN’s plea comes against the backdrop of a broader regional conflict, with Israel continuing military operations in southern Lebanon and facing accusations of stalling on ceasefire negotiations. A March 18, 2025, Al Jazeera report suggested that Israel may have never intended to fully honor the ceasefire, avoiding commitments to a second phase that would have ended hostilities and secured the release of remaining Israeli captives in Gaza.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community watches closely, with pressure mounting on Israel to allow unimpeded access for aid deliveries. For the people of Gaza, the stakes could not be higher, as millions await relief in the face of ongoing uncertainty.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available
