The UN’s top official overseeing aid and reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, has criticized the international community for failing civilians in Gaza, describing the situation as a “significant catastrophe.” In an interview with the BBC, Kaag, who was appointed nine months ago, said her report to the UN Security Council would paint a bleak picture of the humanitarian crisis.
Despite systems in place to deliver aid, including multiple land and sea routes, she highlighted the lack of progress in meeting the population’s basic needs. “We’re not meeting the needs, let alone creating prospects and hope for the civilians in Gaza,” Kaag said, adding that “deconfliction” efforts to ensure the safety of aid missions were inadequate.
The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on aid workers, with nearly 300 killed, most of them UN staff. Kaag, who has met with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledged some cooperation but emphasized that commitments are often slow to materialize.
Israel insists sufficient aid is reaching Gaza and accuses Hamas of diverting supplies. However, Kaag refuted the claims, stressing the integrity of UN operations, while acknowledging challenges in delivering aid during wartime.
She expressed deep regret for the loss of life, saying, “There is no compensation for lives lost and trauma incurred; nothing will make that right.”
