António Guterres expressed his “deep relief” that the hostages had been released, two years after they were among the approximately 250 captured during the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, before highlighting their “immense suffering”.
The UN secretary-general’s comments came as he traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt with world leaders for the Gaza peace summit. The international meeting was convened after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza, in accordance with an agreement between Israel and Hamas, negotiated in Egypt by American mediators and representatives of Qatar and Turkey.
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190,000 tonnes of aid to be delivered
At the same time, UN humanitarian agencies have reported significant positive developments in the delivery of aid to Gaza.
“Our scale-up of humanitarian assistance to Gaza is on track,” the UN humanitarian agency said. OCHAwho said he had obtained Israeli approval for 190,000 tons of food, shelter items, medicine and other supplies to enter the Gaza Strip, 20,000 more than previously agreed.
For the first time since March, cooking gas was allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, “more tents for displaced families, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour and medicine also entered Gaza throughout the day on Sunday,” OCHA said in an update.
Importantly, the humanitarian agency said its workers and partners were now able to move more easily “across multiple areas” – a welcome development following continued access restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.
This allowed humanitarian teams to preposition medical and emergency supplies “where they are most needed”, the UN agency said, in addition to assessing main roads for explosion risks and supporting displaced families in flood-prone areas ahead of winter.
“This is just the beginning. As part of our plan for the first 60 days of the ceasefire, the UN and its partners will expand the scale and scope of our operations to provide vital aid and services to virtually everyone in Gaza,” OCHA continued.
This development is part of a broader humanitarian plan to increase essential services in food, health, water, shelter and education. described by UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher. Its key elements:
- Food aid for 2.1 million people, with in-kind rations, baking and cooking support, restoration of livelihoods of herders and fishermen, and cash assistance for 200,000 families to strengthen dignity and choice.
- Nutritional programs: expanded screenings and nutrient-rich diets for vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Restoring healthcare including services, essential medicines, enhanced disease surveillance and expanded emergency and maternal care, as well as mental health and rehabilitation work.
- Water and sanitation projects for 1.4 million people by repairing networks, sewage systems and waste management, as well as distributing hygiene products.
- Help at the shelter will be prioritized for displaced and vulnerable families with tents, tarpaulins and other materials before winter.
- A boost to education reopen temporary learning spaces for 700,000 children with school materials and activities.
Symptoms of war
Two years of extreme violence and constant Israeli bombardment have left many families without a home to return to.
The violence has also created vast physical and psychological needs across Gaza, which UN agencies are already responding to.
UNICEFthe United Nations Children’s Fund, stressed that “the million” young people in the Gaza Strip are in need of mental health and psychosocial support.
The war has devastated young people’s sense of security, development and well-being, the UN agency insisted, with many experiencing “severe symptoms of stress” such as withdrawal, nightmares and bedwetting.
To help children heal and overcome their fears, UNICEF supports a self-help program in which trainers show children how to use stress management techniques to release and process painful thoughts and images.
One of these devices is an imaginary “safety button” that children can press when they feel overwhelmed by their situation.
“Whenever I was scared, I would put my hand on the safety button and breathe in and out deeply. It gave me a lot of relief,” said Anas, 15, one of the children helped by the program.
By 2025, UNICEF said eight out of ten young people in the program had a reduction in traumatic stress symptoms.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
