United Nations (UN) Secretary‑General António Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire as an important step towards de‑escalation, though the situation on the ground remains fragile. Reports of continued Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have underscored concerns that the truce may not hold across the wider region.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has meanwhile raised alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy, said access to critical healthcare has been severely disrupted following the suspension of medical evacuations.
Evacuations were halted after a WHO‑contracted worker was killed in a recent security incident. Balkhy warned that the safety of health workers is directly linked to the survival of patients. “When health workers are not safe, patients are also at risk,” she said, adding that the suspension has cut off vital treatment pathways for people needing specialised care outside the enclave.
WHO said it continues to support health services and emergency preparedness across the region but warned that persistent insecurity is further limiting access to lifesaving care for Gaza’s most vulnerable populations.
The broader consequences of the conflict have been far‑reaching. Civilian infrastructure across the region has sustained heavy damage, including bridges, roads, schools and medical facilities. Supply disruptions have also driven up prices of food, fuel and medicines, affecting millions beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Welcoming the ceasefire, UN Office for Project Services Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva said it could bring much‑needed relief to populations battered by weeks of violence. “The past six weeks have brought havoc and grief, with thousands killed and injured,” he said. “This pause in fighting will give people a chance to breathe.”
However, Moreira da Silva stressed that the ceasefire must hold and evolve into a lasting political solution. “This ceasefire must pave the way to long‑term stability, justice and peace across the Middle East,” he said. “It is time, and it is long overdue.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
