Satterfield to Al Hurra: We work day and night to provide the people of Gaza with what they need

The United States’ special envoy for humanitarian affairs in the Middle East, David Satterfield, said Thursday that the United States is coordinating with the United Nations to speed up the pace of aid reaching Gaza residents.

In an interview with Al-Hurra TV on Thursday, Satterfield stressed that the humanitarian situation of civilians suffering in Gaza is “very serious”, saying that it is a challenge for all countries, the international community and international agencies that “they can only do their best to provide the aid requested”. He added: “The pace at which aid is being delivered to Gaza is insufficient, but we are working to accelerate it.”

He continued: “The United States is committed to helping in this field, and we have just started, but we have not achieved sufficient results, and this is what the American president said. What we are doing now is not enough. We must to move on.”

Then he stressed that there are difficulties, “without a doubt,” as he said, adding: “We are working day and night to provide the people of Gaza with what they need.”

In response to a question about what can be provided to Gaza residents, what prevents them from delivering humanitarian aid and the role played by the United States in this regard, the American official said: “The United States of America, since At the beginning of this effort, there was international coordination to ensure that aid is delivered and passes through… The Rafah crossing is the only one open, but so far this aid is insufficient.”

He added: “We want to pass more through this corridor (Rafah) administered by the United Nations and its agencies from inside Gaza.”

He added: “We must also ensure that all aid entering Gaza is humanitarian, that it is managed effectively from within Gaza and that it reaches civilians and not Hamas.”

He continued: “We want to provide more,” but reiterated that Washington does not want this aid to reach Hamas.

He repeated: “We want to make sure that aid reaches the civilians it deserves, and not Hamas.”

Speaking about the mechanisms for providing and distributing this aid so that it actually reaches those who deserve it, Satterfield said in this regard: “We are coordinating closely with the United Nations, all its agencies and with partners internationally who provide aid, to ensure that it enters Gaza, and when it enters, it reaches the civilians who deserve it.” from Gaza”.

Then he continued: “It’s a challenge that we know is great, but we have to start from somewhere now, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Then he continued: “We have started the process, but it is not enough. We must strengthen it. It must be sustainable and continuous.”

Responding to a question regarding the aid accumulated at the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian side and when it will enter, the American official said that it is necessary to improve the process of getting the aid in, and “we in the United States are working with partners of the United Nations, with Israel and with Egypt, to ensure coordination of aid. “And to ensure that as much aid as possible gets through Rafah, but we haven’t achieved that yet.”

Speaking about the critical shortage of hospital supplies, particularly fuel, which is vital to their work, Satterfield said: “We are focusing with Israel and UN partners on addressing the issue of fuel in Gaza, which we know is essential without a doubt.”

Then he stressed: “We need to provide fuel for infrastructure like hospitals, and we also need to speed up the distribution of aid, but we want to do it in a way that does not allow Hamas to get its hands on the fuel for its own objectives.” .”

Then he continued: “Let’s be clear. Hamas has fuel in its tunnels and the hospitals have no fuel. Here we must conclude that Hamas is concerned with its own interests and ambitions, and not with the people of Gaza, except to use them as human shields.”

Regarding efforts to provide fuel and the possibility of the United States taking on this role as it does with regards to humanitarian aid, Satterfield reiterated that Washington is working on this issue, saying: “I think there is broad understanding that this should be done in a comprehensive manner. very careful way so that Hamas does not divert this aid”.

He continued: “We need to direct fuel to the places that need it, not just the hospitals, but also the trucks carrying aid, and we are focusing on this issue and working with Israel and others.”

As for the possibility of Washington mediating with regional actors to care for the wounded, whose number has reached a large number, and the possibility of transporting them to Egypt for treatment, Satterfield said: “We look at those who want to leave Gaza. There are many Americans and families of different nationalities… who have not been able to leave Gaza, because Hamas prevents them from leaving or heading towards the Rafah crossing, and among them there are also wounded”.

He added: “In theory, we can, cautiously, ensure their relocation, but Hamas must allow it. There are a number of people who are not allowed to reach the dust of Rafah, and this must change.”