Khaberni - The United Nations announced on Monday the reopening of the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, indicating that aid convoys managed to cross it for the first time since the onset of the American-Israeli war with Iran.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told reporters, "Our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) informed us that the Israeli authorities reopened the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza for the first time in more than 40 days."
He added, "Goods were unloaded last weekend, and the collection process from the United Nations resumed earlier today," noting that food and other supplies provided by the World Food Programme and UNICEF had crossed the crossing.
He continued, "This will help meet a dire need by allowing direct entry of goods to northern Gaza, sparing us from transporting them by trucks from the south," especially from the Kerem Shalom crossing.
However, the spokesperson explained that there are still "significant restrictions," pointing out that Israeli customs procedures "often delay", and lack the necessary equipment to inspect the goods, in addition to the "total ban" imposed on UN agencies and partner NGOs that are considered "vital" for humanitarian efforts.
