- UNICEF says trucks carrying water, hygiene kits, nutrition supplies entering Gaza Strip

ISTANBUL/GENEVA

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF separately announced on Sunday that their trucks have begun crossing into Gaza as the cease-fire deal took effect earlier in the day.

"WFP aims to deliver food daily along humanitarian corridors that include Egypt, Jordan, and Israel crossing points," the organization stated on X.

Trucks are transporting life-saving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels to those in dire need, according to the WFP.

It emphasized the urgency of the situation and called the ceasefire "critical for the humanitarian response."

"Safety and access must be ensured," WFP concluded.

UNICEF, for its part, announced that trucks carrying water, hygiene kits, and nutrition supplies have been entering the Gaza Strip.

"A ceasefire agreement is a critical first step, but it must be upheld," it said, urging, "Parties to (the) conflict must ensure safe, unimpeded access for aid to reach every child."

The Gaza cease-fire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations of Hamas of delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. It was originally scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. local time.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.