Sigrid Kaag Updates Ambassadors on Gaza Humanitarian Aid Efforts
Sigrid Kaag briefed ambassadors on the progress of implementing PLACEHOLDERe79e187e23cf7851&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False), adopted last December following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October. This resolution established her mandate to manage the humanitarian response in Gaza and called for the establishment of a UN mechanism to expedite the delivery of aid, overseen by the UN Office for Project Services (PLACEHOLDER295f16c8fb62e3ba).
Supply Routes Established
Kaag reported that the “2720 Team” has been consistently engaging with various parties to address and overcome access barriers for aiding Gaza. This includes collaborating with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which she described as the “backbone” of humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
She reminded the Council that 11 months ago, Gaza was largely cut off, with just one access point open. Despite the challenging conditions, her team has negotiated and reinforced supply lines, opening additional routes to facilitate and accelerate the steady flow of aid. These routes now include channels through Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, the West Bank, and Israel.
Humanitarian Aid Goals Unmet
Kaag emphasized that the current logistical systems cannot replace the political will needed to ensure Gaza’s civilians receive the help they require. She stressed that humanitarian operations in Gaza need to supply sufficient, diverse, and appropriately timed assistance. However, she noted the stark reality: “That goal is not being met.”
Ongoing hostilities, the collapse of law and order, and frequent looting of supplies present severe challenges to the UN’s efforts. Additionally, humanitarians are frequently met with obstacles such as denials, delays, and security threats, compounded by inadequate logistical infrastructure.
Lives at Stake
Kaag warned that the situation on the ground is hampering relief efforts, despite recent approvals for trucks, satellite phones, and other critical equipment. She stressed that “commitments and intentions need to be translated into tangible actions on the ground,” noting that any delays in aid delivery directly put lives at risk.
Areas for Action
Kaag’s team is actively working on expanding access for goods from both the humanitarian and commercial sectors. While some progress has been made in waste and sewage management, she cautioned that much remains to be done. Urgently needed items like cash, prepositioned fuel, and hygiene supplies are in short supply.
Moreover, the range of humanitarian goods approved for entry into Gaza remains limited, and the UN still urgently requires the import of essential security communications and tracking equipment.
Implementing Agreed Protocols
Kaag highlighted that a newly operational Joint Coordination Board had been established, but added that recent security incidents, including shootings at humanitarian convoys, point to the need for better implementation of agreed-upon protocols.
She also celebrated the successful medical evacuation of 251 patients and their families to the UAE — the largest such operation from Gaza to date. However, over 14,000 patients still urgently require medical treatment outside of Gaza, underscoring the vast unmet need.
Recovery Cannot Wait
While humanitarian assistance is vital, Kaag stressed that it is a temporary solution. A lasting peace, she affirmed, can only come through a comprehensive two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. In the meantime, recovering and rebuilding Gaza should not be delayed. She highlighted the need for investments in education, healthcare, housing, governance, and security.
She reiterated the UN’s position that the Palestinian Authority must resume full control of Gaza. Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa’s cabinet has formulated plans to restore local governance and the rule of law, with support from international organizations like the UN, the EU, and the World Bank. Kaag’s team has also developed financing options for the international community to support these efforts.
Mechanism Up and Running
UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, affirmed his agency’s support for Kaag’s mandate. He reported that the UN mechanism, operational since May, manages a publicly accessible database tracking humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
To date, 229 consignments have been submitted for clearance: 175 were approved, 101 delivered, 17 are pending, and 37 were denied. These deliveries represent over 20,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian cargo, including food, shelter items, water, sanitation (WASH) supplies, and medical aid.
Jordan Aid Corridor
Moreira da Silva explained that most consignments were transported through the newly formalized Jordan corridor, which simplifies the journey by reducing the number of inspection and transloading points. Humanitarian supplies now pass through just one inspection point in Jordan and one in Gaza.
A smaller number of
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