The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have initiated the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as a ceasefire takes effect.
On Sunday, the WFP announced that its trucks have begun crossing into Gaza, transporting life-saving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels to those in dire need. The organization aims to deliver food daily through humanitarian corridors that include crossing points from Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, the WFP described the ceasefire as “critical for the humanitarian response” and stressed that “safety and access must be ensured.”
Similarly, UNICEF reported that trucks carrying water, hygiene kits, and nutrition supplies have been entering the Gaza Strip. The agency highlighted that while the ceasefire agreement is a critical first step, it must be upheld to ensure safe and unimpeded access for aid to reach every child in need.
The ceasefire agreement, which took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT) on Sunday, was delayed by a few hours due to Israeli accusations that Hamas had delayed releasing a list of captives set to be freed. The truce was originally scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. local time.
According to local health authorities, nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The initiation of aid deliveries by UN agencies marks a significant step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, providing much-needed relief to the affected population amid the ongoing challenges in the region.
