'Make Or Break': UN Aid Chief's Bleak Warning Over Gaza As Hunger Levels Rise

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher responds to questions during an interview with The Associated Press at United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, May 14, 2025.The United Nations’ aid chief has warned that the next few days will be critical for Gaza as hunger continue to rise in the Palestinian territory.It follows growing alarm from the international community that Israel’s blockade – in place since March 2 – is creating malnutrition and mass starvation in the area.The UN says a quarter of the population is facing famine-like conditions while a group of 100 NGOs have warned Palestinians are “wasting away” from mass starvation and collapsing on the street.While accusing the UN of obstructing aid, Israel has declared a “tactical pause” in its military offensive in parts of Gaza over the weekend to help get more relief in.But, as the UN’s Tom Fletcher warned, the amount they plan on letting in right now is not enough.“It’s a drop of an ocean of what is needed,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.“During the ceasefire, those 42 days, we were getting in 600 to 700 trucks a day. Yesterday, it was fewer than 100.“It’s the beginning. The next few days are really make or break. “We need to deliver at a much, much greater, greater scale. We need vast amounts of aid going in much faster.”Asked about Israel’s claim that the UN is leaving aid at the border rather than distributing it, he said: “Our whole focus, unrelentingly, is getting that aid moving, we’re not going to leave aid on palettes if we can.“But to get to it, our drivers face bureaucratic constraints, they face massive security constraints.”He said while they got “quite a lot” of food into the enclave on Sunday – and some medicine was delivered – much of it was looted as it went over the border.“We have a plan, I set it out to the security council last week. We can reach everyone in Gaza the next couple of weeks, with our aid, with life-saving aid, we can save as many survivors as possible,” Fletcher said.“We need all those border crossings open, we need the permits, we need security to co-operate.”“The next few days are make or break.”Israel has begun to allow more aid into Gaza, amidst warnings malnutrition has reached ‘alarming levels’.Tom Fletcher, the UN’s aid chief, tells #R4Today recent aid deliveries have been a ‘drop in the ocean’.— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) July 28, 2025Fletcher’s alarming words come as an allegedly 255 MPs have now signed a joint letter calling for UK prime minister Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine as a state, after France said it would be formally doing so in autumn.The government has said it is a case of “when, not if” Britain recognises Palestinian statehood – but claims it will be waiting until the optimum moment to declare it.Related...Kemi Badenoch Says She Believes Israel Is Allowing Humanitarian Aid Into GazaIsrael Declares 'Tactical Pause' In Parts Of Gaza As International Unease Over Hunger GrowsIsraeli Spokesperson Accuses Nick Robinson Of Lying About Gaza In Furious Row Live On Air

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