THE United Nations has issued a warning that ongoing closures of border crossings by Israel are obstructing the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, even as civilians begin relocating to accessible areas following the ceasefire agreement on 10 October.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that since the ceasefire came into effect more than ten days ago, the UN and its partners have intensified aid operations in Gaza, particularly in the central and southern regions.
“The continued closure of the Zikim and Erez crossings, which serve as direct routes to the north, is hampering the efforts of humanitarian teams to deliver essential assistance to the population there at the scale required,” Haq said during a press briefing.
He added that over 425,000 movements of people from the south to the north of Gaza have been recorded since the ceasefire, with many seeking refuge in areas such as Jabaliya and two schools in Beit Lahiya, locations previously inaccessible due to Israeli military operations.
Regarding aid deliveries, Haq explained that of ten UN-coordinated humanitarian missions in Gaza on Monday, six were successfully carried out, including the distribution of water tanks, hygiene kits, and fuel via the border crossings.
“Today, we managed to bring in several fuel tankers and baby diapers,” he noted.
Haq also revealed that nearly 1,500 metric tonnes of aid were transported through the Karem Abu Salem and Kissufim crossings on Monday, with approximately three-quarters of the supplies consisting of food.
“Other aid includes protective materials, livestock feed, health supplies, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene items,” he clarified. - October 23, 2025
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