UNITED NATIONS, Feb — The United Nations on Monday said a fragile ceasefire in Gaza has begun to ease the suffering of children by allowing increased humanitarian assistance, but warned that the overall situation remains extremely dangerous and unstable.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban briefed reporters at UN headquarters following a joint mission to Gaza and the occupied West Bank with World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau.
Chaiban said he returned from the visit with “both hope and concern,” noting that for the first time in months, limited relief was reaching more than one million children affected by the conflict.
He said the ceasefire, though imperfect, had enabled more truckloads of lifesaving aid to enter Gaza, improving food availability and helping reverse famine conditions.
However, Chaiban stressed that the scale of assistance was still insufficient to meet growing humanitarian needs.
“Despite progress in food security, around 100,000 children remain acutely malnourished and require sustained medical and nutritional support,” he said.
UN officials warned that without continued access, funding and stability, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis could quickly deteriorate once again.