UN says ready for Gaza aid surge under Trump plan

The United Nations said Tuesday it is prepared to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza once conditions permit, following the release of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan. 

The UN already declared a famine in Gaza last month, blaming ‘Israel’ for "systematic obstruction" of humanitarian deliveries. 

Released on Monday, Trump’s plan pledges the immediate entry of “full aid” into Gaza through the UN, its agencies, and the Red Crescent, with distribution guaranteed “without interference.” 

Read more: Gaza's death toll rises to 66,097

Jens Laerke, UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesperson stressed, however, that the UN had no role in drafting the proposal.

"The United Nations and its humanitarian agencies, of course, as we have done since day one, stand ready, prepared and capable to increase aid deliveries inside Gaza whenever the opportunity is such that we are allowed to do so -- and the safety and security of doing so is there," he said.

"Aid is ready and available to move in from various agencies, and has been so for a long time," he told reporters in Geneva.

"It has been, of course, paid for by the donors, who will expect us to deliver that aid to people in need."

Laerke said UN humanitarian workers would "do what we always do: try to deliver aid to the people who desperately need it -- and we have the structures available to do so, and the aid to push through those structures".

UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci added: "We welcome all the mediation efforts and we stand ready to support any peace plan with everything we can do, including the provision of humanitarian assistance."