UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has warned that if humanitarian aid fails to reach Gaza in time, as many as 14,000 children could die within the next 48 hours.
Speaking to the BBC’s News Today, Fletcher stated, “I want to do everything I can to save these 14,000 children.” His remarks come amid severe restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza, which has been devastated by months of Israeli military operations.
Although Israel recently lifted an 11-week-long blockade on aid delivery into Gaza, Fletcher noted that only five aid trucks have so far made it through. He expressed hope that at least 100 aid trucks would be able to enter the besieged territory today, stressing that these vehicles are carrying essential items like baby formula and nutritious food.
“There’s a massive need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza,” he said. “Our trucks carry food for malnourished children—urgent, life-saving aid.”
In a coordinated message, the UK, France, and Canada have jointly urged Israel to halt its intensified military offensive in Gaza and to immediately allow more aid into the territory. They emphasized the need to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian relief.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the war “could end tomorrow” if Hamas releases all hostages and surrenders its weapons.
When asked by BBC`s Anna Foster how the UN arrived at the figure of 14,000 potential child deaths in such a short timeframe, Fletcher explained that the UN has a strong presence on the ground. “Many of our personnel have already been killed, but we still have staff working in hospitals, schools, and shelters,” he said. “Their field reports and ongoing assessments inform these dire projections.”
Regarding the joint statement by the UK, France, and Canada, Fletcher called it a “strong message” but stressed that the real challenge now is whether the UN can actually deliver the aid Gaza so desperately needs.
He concluded by reiterating the urgency: “We need immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access. These children`s lives hang in the balance.”
