UN Warns 14,000 Gaza Infants at Risk As Limited Aid Enters Enclave
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations warned that 14,000 infants in Gaza may die within 48 hours without immediate humanitarian aid, as Israel permits a limited number of trucks into the enclave following an 11-week blockade.
The UN reported Tuesday that Israeli authorities granted access for approximately 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza.
This marks the first major delivery since a full siege was imposed in early March.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, described the situation as “catastrophic” and warned of mass infant deaths without urgent care.
“Fourteen thousand babies could die within two days,” Fletcher told the BBC.
“Five trucks entered Monday. This is a drop in the ocean.”
He emphasized the urgency of delivering baby food despite risks: “We may face looting, Israeli attacks, and obstacles, but getting aid to starving mothers is the only option.”
According to medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, the few aid trucks let into Gaza are nowhere near sufficient to meet Gaza’s vast needs and instead serve as a “a smokescreen” for Israel to “pretend the siege is over”.
“The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving,” said Pascale Coissard, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Khan Younis.
As we’ve been reporting, Israel has approved the entry of 100 aid trucks to cross into the enclave, but the UN says no aid has actually been distributed there yet due to Israeli restrictions.
Prior to the war, Gaza got approximately 500 trucks daily. The Israeli genocidal war was accompanied by a total embargo, which halted all goods and humanitarian help.
The blockade escalated into a sustained military campaign, reducing aid access to a fraction of prewar levels.
The partial resumption of aid coincided with a joint statement from the UK, France, and Canada, condemning Israel’s restrictions as “wholly inadequate.”
The governments demanded an end to the military campaign and warned of “further concrete actions” if Israel fails to comply.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Western states of rewarding what he called “the genocidal attack of October 7.”
He vowed to continue the Israeli genocidal war until “total victory is achieved.”
Israel recently expanded its military operations in Gaza, declaring its goal to occupy the territory.
Airstrikes intensified after US President Donald Trump visited the region over the weekend.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said 300 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in the 72 hours before Monday, May 19.
The total death toll has surpassed 53,000, according to the ministry.
The UN said over 500,000 people have been displaced in Gaza since Israel ended the ceasefire in mid-March.
