The United Nations (UN) welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing, this Saturday (21), allowing humanitarian aid to reach Gaza for the first time since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
According to UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, the “convoy of 20 trucks includes vital supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the United Nations, which are approved to cross and be received by the Palestinians.”
Griffiths said the aid delivery came after “days of in-depth and intense negotiations”, adding that the humanitarian situation in Gaza “has reached catastrophic levels”.
“I am confident that this delivery will be the beginning of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, medicine and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe, reliable, unconditional and unimpeded manner,” said Under-Secretary-General .
“The people of Gaza have endured decades of suffering. The international community cannot continue to disappoint them,” she added.
Separately, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the opening of the border crossing as an “important first step” to alleviate “the suffering of innocent people”.
“My thanks to everyone involved who made this possible,” wrote the EU chief in a post on social media.
The opening was also welcomed by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who emphasized in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the aid will provide “a lifeline for those suffering” in Gaza.
“It cannot be an isolated case. The UK continues to press for humanitarian access to Gaza,” added Cleverly, who is currently in Egypt to attend the Cairo Peace Summit.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
