According to the latest reports, following the ceasefire agreement’s implementation, the United Nations swiftly launched phased relief operations. The UN has formulated a plan for humanitarian assistance within 60 days of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement taking effect. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher revealed that 170,000 metric tons of supplies will be delivered to Gaza within 60 days, aiming to achieve a daily transport scale of hundreds of trucks to cover 2.1 million people in need of assistance.
The aid framework addresses multiple critical sectors. For food security, it supports community kitchens through in-kind distributions while providing cash assistance to 200,000 households to ensure choice autonomy. Healthcare focuses on rebuilding systems, replenishing critical medicines, and strengthening pandemic surveillance. For basic living needs, water services will be restored for 1.4 million people, winter supplies provided to displaced persons, and temporary learning centers established for 700,000 children. Fletcher described this plan as “the first moment of hope in 799 days.”
On-the-Ground Obstacles
Aid delivery continues to face multiple practical obstacles. Fuel shortages have become a critical bottleneck, with the United Nations estimating a weekly requirement of 1.9 million liters to sustain supply transportation and facility operations—yet supply restrictions have persisted for an extended period. Border crossing efficiency remains equally concerning, with historical data indicating only about one-quarter of aid trucks successfully clear customs. Northern regions have endured prolonged supply disruptions.
Security risks further compound the challenges. Tens of thousands of unexploded ordnance remain scattered across Gaza, while clearing 50 million tons of rubble would take 21 years, severely hindering the establishment of aid corridors. The funding gap is even more critical: the current funding rate for the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Palestine stands at just 28%, constraining the scale of assistance.
Deeper Structural Challenges
Short-term relief efforts cannot compensate for the long-term trauma caused by war. A United Nations Development Programme assessment indicates that Gaza’s development progress has regressed by 69 years. By 2024, the poverty rate is projected to rise to 74.3%, unemployment will approach 50%, and GDP will contract by 35.1% compared to a scenario without war. Reconstruction funding requirements are even more substantial, with the United Nations and other agencies estimating total needs exceeding $53.2 billion, including $15.2 billion solely for housing reconstruction.
More severe is the governance dilemma. Gaza’s post-war administrative framework remains undefined, with Israel and Arab nations at odds over leadership. Saudi Arabia and others have explicitly stated that aid is contingent on the “two-state solution.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that without sustainable development planning, even with sustained aid, Gaza’s economy would struggle to recover to pre-war levels within a decade.
