Unicef warns Gaza aid blockade will have dire impact

The UN children’s agency, Unicef, has cautioned that blocking aid deliveries to Gaza will have devastating consequences for families and children already struggling to survive.

“The aid restrictions announced yesterday will severely compromise lifesaving operations for civilians,” said Edouard Beigbeder, Unicef’s regional director for the Middle East. He stressed that maintaining the ceasefire is crucial, calling it “a critical lifeline for children,” and urged for unrestricted aid access to scale up humanitarian efforts.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that the ceasefire has allowed for food, water, shelter, and medical aid distribution, ensuring nearly all residents in Gaza receive food parcels.

He also noted that after the border closures, “flour and vegetable prices increased more than 100-fold,” adding that humanitarian partners are now assessing available stock levels.