Gaza: Ceasefire Offers Relief, but Urgent Aid is Vital- Press Conference

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Published Feb 17, 2025

Press conference by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva, on his current visit to the Middle East.

“The ceasefire has offered a much-needed respite, but there is simply no time to lose,” said Jorge Moreira, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), as he briefed reporters on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Speaking to the reporters at UN headquarters in New York via video call, Moreira underscored the urgency of maintaining access for aid delivery and called for a permanent ceasefire and “the release of all hostages without delay.”

Moreira highlighted the organization's efforts to support Gaza's recovery, describing the scale-up of fuel delivery as a critical achievement. “Before the ceasefire, we were providing, on average, 100,000 liters per day of fuel. Now, we are providing and distributing 1.3 million liters per day,” he said. “This confirms, as we always said: once the political and security conditions would allow, we would be able to scale up and speed up delivery.”

UNOPS, which manages the UN 2720 mechanism to facilitate aid delivery, has expedited the transport of nearly 78,000 metric tons of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. “Most importantly, 70 percent of all approvals, all consignments, have been processed in less than 24 hours,” Moreira said.

He also expressed concern about the complex and hazardous conditions on the ground, noting the presence of unexploded ordnance amidst massive amounts of debris. “In partnership with UN Mine Action, we mitigate the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance. As you imagine, this is particularly important in Gaza,” he said.
The conflict has left behind an estimated 40 to 50 million tons of rubble, a significant portion of which may contain human remains and dangerous explosives. “We are not just dealing with rubble; we are dealing with obviously a very complex situation,” Moreira said.

Reflecting on his visit to Gaza, he described the experience as overwhelming, “Today, in my visit, I was astonished, very impressed, with the scale of devastation. And I’ve seen the footage, we have seen the footage, but there is nothing like seeing that directly.”

Moreira reiterated the organization's readiness to continue its work in the region. “6,000 personnel, and we stand ready to support the implementation of the ceasefire deal and to scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief,” he said.