News Center- “As the world is witnessing, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is devastating. One in three people in Gaza hasn’t eaten for days,” Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a statement on Monday, calling for a permanent ceasefire.

“People are being shot just trying to get food to feed their families. Children are wasting away. This is what we face on the ground right now,” he said, welcoming Israel’s decision to support a one-week scale-up of aid, including lifting customs barriers on food, medicine and fuel from Egypt and the reported designation of secure routes for UN humanitarian convoys.

“Vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis. Across the UN agencies and humanitarian community, we are mobilized to save as many lives as we can. Fuel must be allowed in consistently and at the volume needed to keep aid operations running. International humanitarian law must be respected. Aid must not be blocked, delayed or come under fire. Hostages must be released, immediately and unconditionally. Ultimately of course we don’t just need a pause – we need a permanent ceasefire. The world is calling for this lifesaving aid to get through. We won’t stop working for that.”