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It is France’s turn to drop humanitarian aid on the Gaza Strip this Friday.
Forty tonnes of food have been sent by air to help a Palestinian population faced with a major malnutrition situation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot called for “flooding the gaza strip of water, food, medicines”.
Invited to Franceinfo this Friday, he recalled the extent of the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave: “There is no minute to lose. »»
The Minister recognizes that this aid is “obviously insufficient” in the face of the needs of the population.
This Tuesday, Jean-Noël Barrot, had mentioned “four flights carrying 10 tonnes of food each”, suggesting that four rotations would be carried out.
Humanitarian drops have resumed since Sunday, after the Israeli army announcement of a break in the fighting.
The first air operations were led by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The United Kingdom was the first European country to participate, followed by Germany, Belgium and now France, which have all set up an “air bridge” via Jordan.
A report by the World Health Organization published Thursday Alert on the dramatic evolution of famine in Gaza.
Since the beginning of July, 5,000 children under the age of 5 have been admitted for care linked to acute malnutrition. Among them, 63 died of famine. A situation deemed “absolutely intolerable” by Jean-Noël Barrot.
The Minister also denounced restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid imposed by Israel. He claims that “52 tonnes [d’aide] have been waiting for months a few kilometers from the Gaza Strip ”.
“The Israeli government must now reappear all the access routes – air, land, maritime – to allow access, without hindrance and massive, from humanitarian aid to civilian populations who need it so much. »»
At the same time, a rare visit to The American emissary Steve Witkoff is planned in the Gaza Strip.
He will inspect the humanitarian aid distribution sites there and meet residents. The purpose of this mission is to make “an assessment with the president (…) to approve a final plan for the distribution of aid,” according to the White House spokesperson.
