UN humanitarians said on Friday that an agreement to unlock aid deliveries across the border to Gaza was near, as UN chief António Guterres arrived at the Rafah crossing saying aid must move as quickly as possible.

In remarks to reporters at the Egypt-Gaza border tweeted by the UN Country Team in Egypt, the Secretary-General said the large convoy loaded with food and medicine was “the difference between life and death for the people”, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Briefing reporters in Geneva on Friday morning, UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke said on behalf of UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, “we are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to make sure that an aid operation into Gaza starts as quickly as possible and with the right conditions”.

“We are encouraged by reports that the different sides are nearing an agreement on the modalities and that the first delivery is due to start in the next day or so,” he said.

The Israeli genocidal war on Gaza has claimed around 3800 martyrs and 12000 injuries and left a massive destruction in the blockaded Strip.

Source: Agencies