Statement by Minister Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim on urgent need for increased humanitarian access to Gaza

‘I deplore the circumstances leading to WFP’s decision to suspend deliveries of food parcels in Gaza’, said Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim, Minister for International Development.

‘Breakdown of security and blocked access to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza has pushed the humanitarian response to the brink of collapse. Commercial cargo also remains largely blocked from entering Gaza. People are starving while truckloads of food and other goods remain stuck at the border, with high risk of getting spoiled’, said Tvinnereim.

‘Norway reminds the parties, yet again, to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. This means enabling protection of the civilian population and safe passage of the humanitarian assistance they need to survive,’ said Tvinnereim.