“No-One Should Risk Life to Feed Children”: UN Aid Chief Demands Accountability in Gaza

“No-one should have to risk their life to feed their children,” declared UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday, as he vehemently condemned the “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while attempting to access food aid. His powerful statement underscores the desperate and dangerous reality for civilians in the Gaza Strip, where even seeking sustenance has become a deadly endeavor. The international community is increasingly demanding accountability for these tragic incidents.
The severity of the situation is further highlighted by the temporary closure of aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group. This decision was made after a spate of deadly incidents, including an attack on Tuesday that claimed the lives of 27 people near a GHF distribution center. The Israeli army has branded roads to these centers as “combat zones,” creating immense obstacles for humanitarian efforts.
Fletcher directly attributed the civilian deaths to “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” Gazans of essential survival items. He pointed to the overwhelming number of trauma cases being treated by emergency medical teams and the dozens declared dead after Israeli forces opened fire. These incidents, he stressed, are not isolated but rather a systemic outcome of policies restricting aid.
Joining UN chief Antonio Guterres, Fletcher called for immediate independent investigations to ensure perpetrators are held accountable. He also made an impassioned plea for unrestricted humanitarian access, urging for the opening of all crossings, the removal of restrictions on aid volume, and the implementation of a ceasefire to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.