UN announces opening of new land route for food delivery to North Gaza

New Delhi, March 13: The United Nations has reported the opening of a new land route to deliver food aid to northern Gaza for the first time in three weeks. The Israeli military confirmed that six trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) successfully crossed through a gate in the Gaza border fence to provide essential supplies. This delivery, which took place on Tuesday night, is described as part of a pilot initiative aimed at preventing Hamas from intercepting the aid.

The move follows mounting international pressure on Israel to facilitate increased access to aid in the Palestinian territory, particularly amidst concerns of a looming famine exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Additionally, a ship carrying 200 tonnes of food aid departed from Cyprus on Tuesday, marking a new maritime corridor into Gaza. Its anticipated arrival near Gaza on Thursday is expected to bolster relief efforts.

The UN noted that the WFP convoy utilized an Israeli military road along the Gaza border to reach the northern region, delivering enough food to sustain 25,000 people in Gaza City.

According to the UN, approximately 576,000 individuals in Gaza, constituting a quarter of the population, are on the brink of famine. Urgency is heightened for the estimated 300,000 people isolated in the north, an area which UN agencies have struggled to access due to Israeli restrictions, ongoing hostilities, and a breakdown of law and order.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, mediators from Qatar and Egypt continue to work towards brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.