On December 30, the foreign ministers of 10 countries – Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain – released a joint statement voicing deep concerns over Gaza's catastrophic humanitarian crisis 😔.
The statement, published online by the British Foreign Office, urged Israel to let non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work in Gaza in a sustained, predictable way and to ensure the UN can keep supporting the enclave. It also called for lifting "unreasonable restrictions" on imports like medical supplies and shelter equipment, and opening border crossings to ramp up aid flow 📦🆘.
This push comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire this October, ending two years of intense military operations triggered by the deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities in October 2023. While a global hunger monitor reported on December 19 that famine conditions have eased thanks to improved food deliveries, humanitarian agencies warn that far more aid still needs to cross into the crowded territory.
Israel's Foreign Ministry fired back, calling the joint statement "false but unsurprising" — accusing critics of ignoring the need to disarm Hamas and highlighting what it sees as a significant improvement in Gaza's humanitarian situation since the ceasefire.
Despite these mixed reports, aid groups say distribution bottlenecks remain a huge challenge. They argue that opening crossings and reducing red tape are key to getting life-saving support where it's needed most.
As the world watches, young South and Southeast Asians are following #GazaAid updates online, sharing stories and pushing for actionable change. Stay tuned for more developments, and keep the conversation going 🤝✨.
Reference(s):
10 countries voice concerns over Gaza humanitarian situation
cgtn.com
