Many people in Gaza have lost everything, 'yet cling to hope,' says UN migration chief

LONDON

The UN migration chief said on Wednesday that the Palestinians in Gaza are "desperate" for the ceasefire to hold and a place to be safe.

Speaking to CNN, Amy Pope emphasized that the ceasefire has been essential in Gaza as for the first time since the conflict began, they are now able to get in trucks of aid that were not able to get in before.

"We still have a lot more that's ready to go in," she said, adding that they have two warehouses full of shelter equipment in Jordan which are ready to go as the trucks become available.

However, Pope said, this is a notable improvement from "where we were just a couple months ago."

Sharing a clip from the interview on X, the UN migration chief said that in Gaza, people are desperate for the ceasefire to hold and a place to be safe.

"Many have lost everything, yet cling to hope. They need shelter, safety, dignity & control over their future," she added.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since last month, pausing the Israeli war, which has killed nearly 48,350 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.