UNICEF/Eyad El Baba
Five United Nations aid agencies have called for a "humanitarian ceasefire" to allow more aid to flow into Gaza.
The plea on Saturday came as 20 trucks were given permission to enter the territory to deliver food, water, medicine and other supplies.
"Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more,” they said.
The statement was issued by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
A humanitarian convoy entered Gaza on Saturday morning via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt - the first since hostilities erupted two weeks ago.
The 20 trucks carried lifesaving items from the UN and the Egyptian Red Crescent while hundreds more trucks are awaiting at the border.
The UN agencies highlighted "the immense needs in the wake of the Israel-Gaza crisis, which began on 7 October after Hamas militants launched deadly attacks in Israel, killing scores and seizing more than 100 hostages.
"Israel responded with air strikes and bombardment, a complete siege of Gaza, and ordered civilians to evacuate the northern part of the enclave," their statement said.
(Source:UN)
