UN and Aid Agencies Urgently Call for Ceasefire and Mass Relief as Gaza Marks Two Years of War
As the Gaza conflict enters its second year, United Nations officials and aid agencies renewed urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and for massive, rapid humanitarian assistance to avert further famine, displacement and long-term disability among civilians.
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday urged an immediate end to fighting, the humane treatment and release of all hostages, and unfettered access for aid into Gaza, saying tens of thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands face starvation and displacement. Fletcher warned that humanitarian access must be scaled up now to prevent further catastrophe, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to UN press briefing and Al Jazeera, the UN’s aid arm and senior UN spokespeople said they are ready to mount a large-scale relief operation if a ceasefire and access guarantees are secured. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that UN teams and “thousands of metric tonnes” of food, medicine, shelter and other supplies are on standby and “ready to go” once negotiators give the green light — a window the UN said could open if parties accept elements of the US-proposed 20-point peace plan under mediation in Egypt and Qatar.
Aid groups and human-rights monitors highlighted the scale of civilian suffering. An Al Jazeera “by the numbers” feature outlined the devastating human cost over two years: tens of thousands killed, widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and severe shortages of healthcare, clean water and food. The report documented hospital collapses, mass displacement and long-term disability burdens that will shape Gaza’s recovery needs for decades.
Arab News emphasised the UN secretary-general’s plea for protection of civilians on the conflict’s anniversary and reported on the growing disability crisis in Gaza — noting the rising number of amputations, spinal injuries and psychosocial trauma that will require specialised, long-term care. The article warned that without sustained access to medical supplies and rehabilitation services, many survivors face permanent disability and dependency.
According to The Associated Press and The Guardian, diplomatic activity accelerated this week as indirect talks resumed in Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediators pushing to seal a pause that could include hostage-for-prisoner exchanges, phased Israeli troop withdrawals and guarded routes for massive aid deliveries. International officials caution, however, that the talks leave hard issues — disarmament, governance in Gaza and verification mechanisms — unresolved.
The humanitarian picture is compounded by the scale of international military assistance to Israel during the war: recent studies and reporting cited by AP News estimate at least $21.7 billion in U.S. military aid committed since October 2023, a factor analysts say has influenced the conflict’s dynamics and diplomatic calculations.
UN and aid officials reiterated three urgent demands: (1) an immediate, verifiable ceasefire; (2) secure, sustained corridors for the entry and distribution of food, fuel, medicine and shelter; and (3) protections for civilians and humanitarian personnel. They warned that only swift, coordinated action — backed by ceasefire guarantees and oversight — can prevent a deeper famine, reduce long-term disability and create the narrow space needed for a durable political settlement.
