With a new ceasefire in place in Gaza, aid organizations are preparing to scale up emergency relief. UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram describes the enormous need for support for millions affected after two years of conflict. The organization is ready with thousands of trucks to meet the challenges, including the approaching winter.
On Friday, a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, and the Israeli military (IDF) withdrew from parts of the Gaza Strip as part of the agreement with Hamas. At 11 a.m., the IDF announced that the ceasefire had begun. Aid organizations, including UNICEF, are now preparing to significantly increase their efforts.
Tess Ingram, UNICEF's spokesperson in Gaza, is located in al-Mawasi in southern Gaza and bears witness to the dire conditions. 'We have an enormous task ahead of us,' she tells SVT. 'The biggest challenge is the enormous need for aid; it concerns millions of people affected by two years of atrocities.' Ingram describes a mix of emotions among residents: 'While many celebrate perhaps surviving the unthinkable, there is a great sense of sorrow over everything that has been taken from them.'
UNICEF has 1,300 trucks positioned around the Gaza Strip, ready to be allowed entry. The organization has already managed to bring in some emergency aid but plans to scale up substantially. 'We need to get in hundreds of trucks a day to meet the needs,' states Ingram. She hopes distribution can start immediately with the ceasefire, but challenges remain: damaged roads, poor telecommunications, and lack of security.
An urgent issue is winter, which is approaching rapidly. 'Winter is approaching with giant steps here in the Gaza Strip, and so many homes have been destroyed. Even under a ceasefire, people have nowhere to spend the night in safety,' warns Ingram. UNICEF plans to distribute one million blankets, tents, and winter clothes for children.
Doctors Without Borders is also hopeful but realistic. Secretary General Ylva Jonsson Strömberg says: 'To get Gaza back to where it was before the war, we're talking about a decade; this is no 'quick-fix,' but we will do everything we can.' The organization wants to return to Gaza City with staff and medicine, provided there are security guarantees.