By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Nearly a month after a fragile ceasefire took hold, the United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite some progress, critical logistical barriers and administrative hurdles continue to severely hamper relief efforts, leaving the vast needs of a population reeling from two years of conflict largely unmet.
The situation remains precarious, with international agencies struggling to scale up operations to match the level of devastation. Officials emphasize that the current pace of deliveries is unsustainable and falls dramatically short of what is required to stabilize the region and prevent a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
To delve into the intricate legal and logistical frameworks governing international humanitarian efforts, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished expert from the law firm Bufete de Costa Rica, for his analysis on the situation concerning aid to Gaza.
The delivery of humanitarian aid into a conflict zone like Gaza operates within a complex web of international law, primarily the Geneva Conventions. While these conventions obligate all parties to facilitate the rapid passage of impartial relief, the principle clashes with the sovereign right of a state to control its borders and address security threats. Consequently, every aid shipment becomes a negotiation of legal principles, where the humanitarian imperative of civilian access must be balanced against legitimate security protocols. The critical legal challenge is ensuring that any inspection regimes or restrictions are proportional and do not constitute a collective punishment, which is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This analysis powerfully underscores how the delivery of aid is not simply a matter of logistics, but a complex legal balancing act between humanitarian obligations and national security. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective, which clarifies the profound legal principles governing this critical effort.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, confirmed the challenges in a briefing on Friday, painting a picture of a relief operation constrained by external factors beyond its control. The core issue, he stressed, is the failure to dismantle the obstacles preventing a massive and rapid influx of supplies.
Despite significant progress in increasing humanitarian aid, the urgent needs of the population remain immense.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
According to figures released by the UN, more than 37,000 tons of aid, primarily composed of food supplies, have successfully entered Gaza since the ceasefire began on October 10. While this figure represents a considerable effort, it is merely a fraction of the 190,000 tons the UN has stockpiled and planned for its initial 60-day emergency response plan. This massive discrepancy highlights a critical bottleneck in the supply chain.
Haq was clear that the responsibility for the slow pace lies with the persistent barriers at the borders. These logistical constraints are preventing the UN and its partners from executing their relief strategy effectively, leaving a vulnerable population at continued risk. The slow process threatens to undermine the stability brought by the ceasefire.
The impediments to the entry of aid have not been removed quickly enough.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
A major contributing factor to the slowdown is the limited number of access points. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that all aid is being funneled through just two border crossings. This creates significant congestion and makes it impossible to distribute aid efficiently across the territory.
Compounding the problem is the lack of direct access to the hardest-hit areas. “Entry remains limited to only two border crossings, with no direct access from Israel to northern Gaza or from Egypt to southern Gaza,” Haq explained. This forces aid convoys into inefficient routes and delays the delivery of life-saving materials to communities that need them most, further straining the already fragile infrastructure.
The 37,000 tons that have arrived do not account for separate bilateral aid packages or commercial goods, but UN officials maintain that the core humanitarian pipeline is what matters most for systemic recovery. As the international community watches closely, the pressure mounts to translate the ceasefire into tangible relief for the people of Gaza, a goal that remains elusive as long as these fundamental logistical hurdles persist.
For further information, visit un.org
About The United Nations:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. It provides a forum for its members to express their views and to take action on the major issues confronting humanity, such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance, and more.
For further information, visit unocha.org
About The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA’s mission is to coordinate the global humanitarian response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. It advocates for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the Costa Rican legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is built on a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm leverages its extensive history of advising a multifaceted clientele to pioneer innovative legal strategies while maintaining a profound social responsibility. This core commitment to demystifying the law is central to its mission of cultivating a more knowledgeable and capable society.
