Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said today that the pause in fighting agreed to in Gaza must lead to a sustained ceasefire.

‘A pause of a few days is not enough time to address the immense needs after six weeks of fighting, bloodshed, and destruction,’ said Egeland in a statement, adding that the pause ‘must pave the way for a lasting ceasefire.’

He stressed that ‘a sustained ceasefire is needed to prevent further civilian deaths and provide safety for people in need of vital humanitarian assistance,’ explaining that NRC ‘will do all that we can to provide relief to those in need in Gaza during the four-day humanitarian pause,’ but needs unfettered access to humanitarian aid and security guarantees throughout Gaza to support a long-term recovery.

Egeland warned that with winter looming, ‘it will be a disaster to reignite this conflict. Small shelters have housed scores of people, with little food and water and mounting health hazards. Children are traumatized, and ma
ny face a future without their parents and siblings. They need urgent, long-term help. This can only happen through a sustained ceasefire.’

Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA