Foreign Ministers Urge Immediate Action to Protect Gaza’s Displaced as Winter Conditions Worsen

email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Amman: The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have expressed grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, warning that severe weather conditions and restricted humanitarian access are pushing civilians to the brink.

In a joint statement issued in Amman, the ministers said heavy rainfall, storms and unstable winter weather have worsened already fragile conditions in Gaza, particularly for nearly 1.9 million displaced people living in inadequate shelters. Flooded camps, damaged tents, collapsing structures, exposure to cold temperatures and widespread malnutrition have significantly increased risks to civilian lives, including the threat of disease outbreaks.

The ministers highlighted that children, women, the elderly and people with medical vulnerabilities are facing the greatest danger as shortages of essential life-saving supplies persist and the entry of materials needed to restore basic services and establish temporary housing remains slow.

They praised the continued efforts of United Nations agencies, especially UNRWA, and international humanitarian organisations for delivering aid under “extremely difficult and complex circumstances.” The ministers stressed that Israel must ensure UN agencies and international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza and the West Bank in a sustained, predictable, and unrestricted manner, calling any attempt to obstruct humanitarian work unacceptable.

The statement reaffirmed full support for UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, with the ministers pledging to contribute to its implementation to sustain the ceasefire, bring an end to the war in Gaza, and secure a dignified life for the Palestinian people. They said these efforts should lead to a credible pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

The ministers also stressed the urgent need to scale up early recovery efforts, including the provision of durable and dignified shelter to protect civilians from harsh winter conditions.

Calling on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, the ministers urged pressure on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on the entry and distribution of essential supplies, including tents, shelter materials, medical aid, clean water, fuel, and sanitation support.

They further demanded the immediate, full, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid through the United Nations and its agencies, the rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and hospitals, and the reopening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions, in line with President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan.

Photo: AFP