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UN says ceasefire opened routes for humanitarian deliveries to Gaza; urges investigation into allegations about shelters
Summary
The UN reported expanded access during the ceasefire, stepped‑up delivery of food, medical and fuel supplies to Gaza, and called for information to investigate allegations that some released hostages had been held in UN‑run shelters. The briefing also highlighted damage and water/electricity disruptions in Jenin, West Bank.
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners said they were using the ceasefire that began on Jan. 19 to increase deliveries of fuel, food and medical supplies across the Gaza Strip and to scale up storage, repairs and life‑saving services.
UNRWA and partners distributed aid by truck, with the briefing noting that UNRWA delivered 118 trucks carrying more than 53,000 food parcels to communities in Khan Younis and to shelters in Deir al‑Balah. The UN Population Fund said 20 trucks carrying supplies for safe births and emergency obstetric care were offloaded in Deir al‑Balah, with 20 more entering northern Gaza. UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said it was distributing fuel to keep hospitals and water pumping and desalination systems running on backup generators.
The special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Sigrid Kaag, visited southern and central Gaza and inspected a temporary learning space serving roughly 3,000 children, as well as a nutrition and mental health center. OCHA said partners are dispatching supplies to designated emergency shelters and distribution centers, reopening bakeries and stepping up disease surveillance and needs assessments.
The UN also reported damage and humanitarian strain in the West Bank. OCHA said an operation in Jenin had reportedly killed 10 people and left dozens injured, and that Jenin Government Hospital was disconnected from the water grid and electricity network and was relying on emergency tanks and limited reserves.
On allegations that three released Israeli hostages said they had been held in UN shelters, the UN called for anyone with information to share it formally with UNRWA or relevant UN bodies so the matter can be investigated. The spokesperson said it was unclear whether the shelters in question had been abandoned during fighting and that further information was needed to determine what occurred.
