UN warns of humanitarian obstacles in Gaza and US calls for support for Trump's Peace Council.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 18 (EFE).- The United Nations warned this Wednesday that humanitarian operations in Gaza remain "subject to restrictions", where the population survives in "extremely harsh conditions", during a session of the Security Council in which the US ambassador, Mike Waltz, called for "backing" for Donald Trump's Peace Council, which will hold its first meeting in Washington tomorrow.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, pointed out at the beginning of the session that "a significant increase in the entry of relief materials and medical equipment is needed to prevent a further deterioration of the crisis". DiCarlo added that "the devastation in the Gaza Strip remains massive" and that "thousands of people need urgent medical evacuation".
The diplomat described the reopening on February 2 of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian traffic in both directions as a positive step, and stressed that consolidating the second phase of the ceasefire "is essential to stabilize Gaza and lay the foundations for a recovery led by the Palestinians themselves".
UN absent from Trump's Peace Council
The Council, convened by the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating presidency of the body this February, takes place just a day before leaders of more than 20 countries attend tomorrow's first meeting of the Peace Council initiated by US President Donald Trump to resolve global conflicts, starting with the one in Gaza.
The UN will not be represented at tomorrow's event, as confirmed this Wednesday by its spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a press conference. Criticism is heard of the Council's structure, which is unconventional and unprecedented... The fact is that the old way of working did not function.
