Gaza: Signs of Hope Amid Recovery & Ongoing Humanitarian Challenges-Press Conference| United Nations скачать в хорошем качестве

Gaza: Signs of Hope Amid Recovery & Ongoing Humanitarian Challenges-Press Conference| United Nations

Press conference by Muhannad Hadi, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. ---------- “When I entered Gaza this morning, it felt like this was probably one of the happiest days of my professional life,” said Muhannad Hadi, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, during a video press conference from Jerusalem. Hadi had just returned from a visit to Gaza, where he observed signs of recovery amid ongoing humanitarian challenges. Speaking to reporters today (21 Jan), Hadi described a markedly different atmosphere compared to his previous visits over the past year. " The people I met had a different attitude. It made me very happy to see that people had already started moving, some of them going back to their places of origin," he said. "I saw people in the streets starting to clean up the roads. There is a bit more law and order compared to the times before, when I was entering Gaza and seeing our humanitarian trucks being looted. This time, I saw things are improving." During his visit, Hadi toured a communal kitchen operated by the WFP in Khan Younis, where he met families reliant on the meals provided, who told him, “If it wasn't for that kitchen, they probably would have starved to death. But they were very hopeful, and they actually gave me a lot of hope for the future," he said. However, the reliance on humanitarian aid remains a source of frustration for many residents. "All of them told me that what they want now, immediately, is to go home. They want income-generating activities. They don't like the fact that they have been depending on humanitarian aid," Hadi explained. Hadi emphasized the need to prioritize sustainable recovery efforts. “We'd like to start with income-generating activities, because this is what people have said. Some agriculture projects, if we can, cash-for-work, and any other opportunities. Rubble removal is a lot of work," he said. Despite progress, Hadi acknowledged the challenges in maintaining and scaling up aid delivery. “The reason I don't like to focus on trucks is simply that there are a lot of services that the people of Gaza need that you don't load on trucks: protection, psychosocial support, education itself.” He also added, “We need to make sure right now that we focus on bringing in as much humanitarian aid as we can.” Hadi also highlighted the critical role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), “It's not easy to replace UNRWA, and we're hoping that they will continue, one way or another, operating. We're talking about education, health, and logistics support. UNRWA employs 13,000 people in Gaza, by the way—it is the second-largest employer in Gaza after the Palestinian authorities. So, you can imagine the critical role of UNRWA,” he said, underscoring the need for continued support for the agency's operations.