Ashraf AboArafe reports
Cairo – 4 June 2025
In a deeply emotional and urgent appeal, Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the situation in Gaza as “dying for bread,” warning of a rapidly escalating humanitarian catastrophe under siege.
“The world is witnessing horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot or killed simply for trying to eat,” Fletcher said in a strongly worded statement.
He confirmed that emergency medical teams have treated hundreds of trauma cases, while dozens were declared dead just yesterday after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians attempting to access food.
A Crisis Born of Deliberate Choices
Fletcher blamed the current crisis on “a series of deliberate choices” that have systematically deprived two million people of life’s essentials. He added:
“No one should have to risk their life to feed their children.”
Calling for immediate, independent investigations, Fletcher made it clear that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a wider pattern of violations that must be held accountable.
An Urgent Call to Action: Open the Crossings
In his appeal, Fletcher called on all parties and the international community to:
- Open all border crossings without delay.
- Allow humanitarian aid to enter at scale, from all directions.
- Lift restrictions on what and how much aid can enter.
- Ensure aid convoys are not blocked, delayed, or denied.
- Release hostages and implement a ceasefire.
“We Have the Tools – Let Us Work”
Fletcher stressed that the UN and its partners have “the teams, the plans, the supplies, and the experience” to respond effectively, but they are being prevented from doing their jobs.
“Let us work. We’re not asking for the impossible—we’re asking for the chance to save lives.”
He concluded by thanking the growing number of UN Member States backing the humanitarian mission:
“More and more voices are rising in support. The world must act. Let us do our job.”
