UN Chief urges swift passage of 'lifeline' aid trucks into Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Oct 2023 00:06

"These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline," the UN chief said.

Egyptians wave national and Palestinian flags as the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's motorcade arrives at the Rafah border crossing, Egypt, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad)

The UN Secretary-General stated on Friday that the aid trucks waiting to cross from Egypt into Gaza are an essential "lifeline" that should be expedited into the besieged Gaza without delay.

"These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres upon his arrival at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.

While cargo planes and trucks have been transporting humanitarian assistance to Rafah for several days, none of it has yet reached Gaza. The territory has endured relentless Israeli bombardment for nearly two weeks since the resistance operation began on October 7.

Quoting police minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli media had reported that he said: "We must not allow any humanitarian assistance to the residents of Gaza."

Rafah serves as the sole entry point into Gaza that isn't under Israeli control. Despite "Israel" giving its approval for aid from Egypt to enter Gaza after a request from the US, Israeli raids continue to bomb the vicinity of the crossing making aid deliveries impossible.

Over the subsequent period, according to Gaza's health ministry, more than 4,100 Palestinians, primarily civilians, have lost their lives in relentless Israeli airstrikes.

"Israel" also cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and food to the territory of 2.4 million people, creating chronic shortages.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths announced on Friday that the initial aid shipment through Rafah would occur "in the next day or so".

"To see (the aid trucks) stuck here makes me very clear: what we need is to make them move... to the other side of this wall... as quickly as possible and as many as possible," Guterres told reporters at the crossing.

He added that this should be a "sustained effort," involving not only a single convoy but permitting multiple convoys "to be authorized in a meaningful number to have enough trucks to provide support to Gaza's people".

"It is essential to have fuel on the other side... to be able to distribute humanitarian aid for the population in Gaza," Guterres said, cautioned against using aid deliveries as "bargaining chips."

He mentioned that the United Nations is "actively engaging with all the parties" involved, including Egypt, "Israel", and the US, to expedite the movement of the aid trucks.

UN Chief's comments were made in anticipation of an upcoming summit hosted by Egypt, where discussions would revolve around de-escalation and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

Additionally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Cairo on Friday. Both leaders emphasized the importance of preventing the spread of conflict.