A dire warning was issued by the United Nations’ humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday, stating that up to 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within the next 48 hours if life-saving humanitarian aid does not reach them urgently. Speaking on Radio 4’s programme, Fletcher underscored the critical need for immediate access to Gaza for trucks carrying baby food and nutritional supplies that are currently stuck at the border.
Fletcher stressed that these supplies are not at risk of being seized by Hamas, but the delivery efforts face serious obstacles, including looting, military strikes, and the ongoing Israeli offensive. “We run all sorts of risk trying to get that baby food through to those mothers who cannot feed their children right now because they’re malnourished,” he said.
On Monday, Israel allowed five aid trucks to enter through the Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) crossing, marking the first delivery in nearly three months. However, Fletcher described this as a mere “drop in the ocean” and noted that the aid had yet to reach the communities most in need.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened significantly over the past 11 weeks, with Israel imposing a total blockade on the territory. This has severely restricted the flow of food, medicine, and fuel, leading to catastrophic conditions. According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, one in five Gazans is facing starvation, and nearly 71,000 children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition.
International pressure on Israel is mounting. On Monday, the UK, France, and Canada warned they would take “concrete actions” if Israel fails to lift aid restrictions and halt its military operations. A joint statement by 22 countries has also called on Israel to allow the full resumption of impartial humanitarian operations in Gaza.
As conditions deteriorate rapidly, humanitarian agencies warn that time is running out, particularly for Gaza’s most vulnerable—its children.
