“We are very optimistic that the peace plans will improve the situation,” said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesman Ricardo Pires said Tuesday during a briefing with journalists in Geneva. “But once again, the reality for children on the ground remains very tragic. »
“We are still speculating,” the UN aid coordination office said (OCHA), spokesperson Jens Laerke said of Security Council resolution on the American peace plan, stressing that it “needs a little flesh on the bones”, but recalling the UN chief’s support for development.
The resolution approving the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza” announced by US President Trump on September 29 received the support of 13 Security Council countries. China and Russia abstained from the vote.
Find our complete coverage of the Security Council resolution here.
A council of peace
The resolution hails the transitional administration known as the “Peace Council” – which President Donald Trump would chair – to establish a temporary international force in Gaza and coordinate reconstruction efforts, including the provision of humanitarian aid.
In a statement released overnight by his spokesperson, the UN Secretary General encouraged respect for the fragile ceasefire by all parties to the conflict, triggered by the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Mr. Guterres acknowledged the “continued diplomatic efforts” of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the United States and its regional neighbors regarding the Gaza crisis, before emphasizing the importance of “moving towards” the second phase of the American plan, “leading to a political process for the realization of the two-state solution, in accordance with previous United Nations resolutions.”
Exposed to more difficulties
Meanwhile, in Gaza, humanitarian agencies stressed Tuesday that more than two years of destructive war between Hamas fighters and Israel and a chronic lack of all forms of assistance have exhausted the enclave’s population.
Heavy rains in recent days have flooded worn-out tents sheltering people repeatedly displaced by war, said Ricardo Pires of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“We are seeing heartbreaking stories of desperate families who feel completely lost and exhausted after their tents were flooded,” he told reporters in Geneva. “When children sleep in flooded tents, without warm clothes or dry bedding, and many of them lack the necessary nutrition, have very low immunity and are already traumatized by conflict, winter becomes extremely dangerous. »
Mr Pires noted that recent bad weather in Gaza has triggered a surge in the number of people seeking medical help – particularly among children weakened by “years of malnutrition, starvation, trauma (and) multiple displacements”.
The UNICEF official also explained that because Israeli forces occupy more than 50 percent of the enclave, most of the areas where Palestinians have been forced to seek refuge are coastal and most prone to flooding.
Aid to Zikim is strengthened
In a call for better access to aid, he stressed that it was “part of [peace] agreement and we need to see more humanitarian corridors opened.”
According to OCHA, more than 5,400 tonnes of aid were collected between Thursday and Sunday, including shelter, medicine and food items. The Zikim border post has reopened after remaining closed for two months, bringing the number of crossings available to three.
Mr. Pires highlighted the importance of the opening of Zikim and said that recently UNICEF managed to bring in 96 pallets of high-energy biscuits destined for famine-stricken northern Gaza.
“We need more, much more,” he said. “I hope that with the new plan this will become a reality for children and families.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
