UNITED NATIONS, November 6. /TASS/. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for increased funding of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, since the current volumes are not enough to meet the needs.

"Today, the United Nations and our partners are launching a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal to help 2.7 million people. That’s the entire population of the Gaza Strip and half a million Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," he said. "Some life-saving aid is getting into Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing. But the trickle of assistance doesn’t meet the ocean of needs."

He called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and urged the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law. Apart from that, he called for an immediate unconditional release of hostages, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and guaranteed access of food, medicine, and fuel to the Gaza strip.

"And for all of this we need more funding now," he stressed.