Pakistan and seven Muslim states warn of ‘humanitarian collapse’ in battered enclave
Palestinians gather at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2025, as Israel allows a limited amount of aid into the enclave. PHOTO: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and seven key Muslim countries on Friday expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, warning that harsh winter weather combined with severe restrictions on access to aid has brought nearly two million displaced Palestinians to the brink of catastrophe.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said heavy rains, storms and falling temperatures have further exposed the fragility of Gaza’s already devastated humanitarian conditions.
The ministers noted that around 1.9 million displaced people, many of whom live in makeshift tents and damaged structures, now face flooded camps, collapsing buildings, severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel, and increased risks of disease outbreaks, especially among children, women, the elderly and people with medical vulnerabilities.
They warned that exposure to cold weather, combined with widespread malnutrition, has significantly increased threats to civilian lives at a time when humanitarian access remains grossly insufficient and the entry of essential materials for basic services and temporary housing continues at a slow pace.
The joint statement strongly praised the efforts of United Nations agencies, particularly UNRWA, together with international humanitarian organizations, to continue relief operations in what it described as “extremely difficult and complex circumstances.”
The ministers demanded that Israel allow the UN and international NGOs to operate in Gaza and the West Bank in a sustained, predictable and unrestricted manner, emphasizing that any attempt to obstruct their work is unacceptable.
The eight countries reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan, expressing their willingness to contribute to its successful implementation.
They said the plan offers a framework to sustain the ceasefire, end the war in Gaza and provide a path to a dignified life for Palestinians, ultimately leading to self-determination and the creation of a state.
However, diplomatic sources say that while these countries support the overall Gaza peace framework, they have reservations on certain political aspects, particularly those related to timelines for reconstruction, long-term governance arrangements in Gaza, and guarantees for unhindered humanitarian access and the deployment of an international stabilization force, issues they believe require greater clarity and international consensus.
Ministers emphasized the urgent need to immediately launch and expand early recovery efforts, including the provision of durable and decent shelters to protect civilians from severe winter conditions.
Calling on the international community to live up to its legal and moral responsibilities, the statement 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, drinking water, fuel and health support.
They also called for immediate, full and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza through UN channels, the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and hospitals, and the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, in line with President Trump’s plan.
The statement comes as Gaza faces one of its worst winters in decades, and aid agencies warn that without swift intervention, thousands of civilians could face life-threatening conditions in the coming weeks despite the fragile ceasefire.
