UN Relief Chief demands rapid, safe, unimpeded aid delivery in Gaza

Statement by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on resuming aid delivery to Gaza

New York, 16 May 2025

As we demonstrated during the ceasefire this year – and every time we’ve been granted access – the United Nations and our humanitarian partners have the expertise, resolve and moral clarity to deliver aid at the scale necessary to save lives across Gaza.

To those proposing an alternative modality for aid distribution, let's not waste time: We already have a plan. This document sets it out again.  It is rooted in the non-negotiable principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. It is backed by a coalition of donors and the vast majority of the international community. It is ready to be activated – today – if we are simply allowed to do our jobs.

We have the people. We have the distribution networks. We have the trust of the communities on the ground. And we have the aid itself – 160,000 pallets of it – ready to move. Now. 

We’ve done this before. We can do it again. We know how to get our aid supplies registered, scanned, inspected, loaded, offloaded, inspected again, loaded again, transported, stored, protected from looting, tracked, trucked, monitored and delivered – without diversion, without delay, and with dignity. We know how to reach civilians in desperate need and stave off famine.  

Enough. We demand rapid, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery for civilians in need.

Let us work.