MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman expressed its regret over the UN Security Council’s failure to issue a resolution for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the repeated use of veto that hampered the resolution.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Oman reiterated its plea for the international community and the Security Council to facilitate all initiatives to implement an immediate ceasefire in the region. It urged the Security Council not to stand in the way of peace.
Oman also urged friendly countries to put into practice their positions and statements that support the establishment of peace. It called upon all "to translate those positions into a just humanitarian reality”.
Meanwhile, according to UN data and officials the flow of aid entering Gaza from Egypt has almost dried up in the past two weeks and a collapse in security has made it increasingly difficult to distribute the food that does get through.
Daily figures show a precipitous drop in aid supplies since February 9 reaching Gaza, where the mostly displaced population of 2.3 million is facing crisis levels of hunger.
Before the conflict, Gaza relied on 500 trucks with supplies entering daily, and even during intense fighting in January around 200 aid trucks made it through on most days.
But according to the UN figures, from February 9-20 the daily average fell to just 57 trucks. On seven of those 12 days, 20 or fewer trucks made it through, including just four trucks on February 17.
Deliveries through the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza have been almost totally halted. While more trucks have occasionally arrived through Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, they have frequently been disrupted by Israeli protesters seeking to block deliveries. The crossing was closed from February 8-10 and February 15-17.
The United Nations says it is becoming more difficult to distribute aid inside Gaza because of the collapse of security inside the strip, where most residents are now hemmed into makeshift camps. Troops from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) now occupy most of Gaza and are responsible for safe passage for aid convoys through areas they control.
"The IDF has a responsibility to facilitate humanitarian operations within Gaza. Aid piling up at the crossing is evidence of an absence of this enabling environment amidst enormous needs," said Eri Kaneko, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian affairs office.
"The UN and our humanitarian partners have not been able to regularly pick up supplies from the crossing points due to safety concerns and a breakdown of law and order," she said. SEE ALSO P6
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