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Tag: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

  • UN, Red Cross urge opening of all crossings to allow aid into Gaza

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    Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing wait to cross into the Gaza Strip early on October 15, 2025, after Israel said it would allow the crossing to reopen for humanitarian aid to enter from Egypt into the Palestinian territory. [STR/AFP via Getty Images]

    The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday called for all border crossings into Gaza to be opened to allow the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the war-torn enclave.

    The two organizations stressed that the truce recently reached in Gaza, as part of US President Donald Trump’s mediation plan, requires immediate steps to ensure aid can reach civilians facing famine conditions.

    “This is what humanitarian workers, including the ICRto allow the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid C, have been calling for in recent hours — to make sure all entry points can be opened, given the massive needs,” said Christian Cardon, an ICRC spokesperson, speaking to reporters in Geneva.

    Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), echoed the call, saying: “We need them all to be opened.”

    Laerke acknowledged that several crossings were “partially destroyed,” and that debris clearance was needed to enable trucks to move safely through Gaza’s streets. “We call for them to be repaired so they can be operated” he added.

    The United Nations declared a famine in Gaza on 22 August, after experts warned that some 500,000 people were facing a “catastrophic” hunger crisis. Laerke said the UN currently has 190,000 tons of humanitarian aid ready to be transported into the enclave once access is granted.

    READ: Gaza tribal and clan back security efforts, ends protection for offenders

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    Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
    Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
    Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
    Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
    Genocide denying UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government's support for Israel's Gaza genocide and the UK government and military's active participation in genocide.
    Genocide denying UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide and the UK government and military’s active participation in genocide.

  • Israel refuses to renew visas for heads of 3 UN agencies in Gaza

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    Daily life continues at Al-Shati refugee camp in the shadow of war in Gaza City, Gaza on June 19, 2025. [Mahmoud İssa - Anadolu Agency]
    Daily life continues at Al-Shati refugee camp in the shadow of war in Gaza City, Gaza on June 19, 2025. [Mahmoud İssa – Anadolu Agency]

    Israel has refused to renew the visas of the heads of at least three United Nations agencies operating in Gaza, a move linked by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, to their efforts to protect Palestinian civilians in the war-torn Strip, according to Associated Press.

     “Visas are not renewed or reduced in duration by Israel, explicitly in response to our work on protection of civilians,” Fletcher said.

    UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed in recent months that visa renewals had not been granted to the local heads of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

    Speaking before the Security Council on Wednesday, Fletcher said the UN’s humanitarian role is not only to deliver aid and report what its staff witness, but also to advocate for international humanitarian law, “so that you, this Council, can take action.”

    READ: UNICEF: Israeli attacks killing 28 children daily in Gaza