GENEVA: The work of a US-backed private humanitarian organisation tasked with distributing aid in Gaza is a distraction from what is needed, such as the opening of crossing points, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday (May 27).
The GHF, which began as an Israeli-initiated plan and has drawn criticism from the United Nations and others, said on Monday it began distributing supplies in Gaza.
This follows an Israeli blockade for 11 weeks that was only partially lifted in recent days and that prompted a famine warning from a global hunger monitor and international criticism.
“We do not participate in this modality for the reasons given. It is a distraction from what is actually needed (…),” Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) told a Geneva briefing, calling for the reopening of all crossings.
He also called for an end to Israeli restrictions on the type of aid being allowed to enter the enclave, which he said was being “cherry picked” and did not always match needs.
