Cindy McCain on the situation in Gaza: “We need food and we need it now”

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program, said on Friday that there is an urgent need for food in Gaza amid the ongoing war there.

“[O]The obstacles you face are many.” He said in an interview on MSNBC's “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on Friday. “We must be cleared at every level. The Israelis are blocking the road – whether we are cleared or not… Drivers are being cleared, and we have no access to the roads. We need clear and unrestricted access to entry on a large scale, so we can feed millions of people.” People who are on the verge of starvation.

McCain continued: “We don't need a veto. We need food and we need it now.”

The United Nations Security Council on Friday rejected a US-backed draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas, after Russia and China voted against it.

There were 11 votes in favour, three votes opposed, and one member abstained from the final vote on the resolution. Russia and China have veto power as permanent members of the Security Council. The proposal links the ceasefire to humanitarian aid efforts in war-torn Gaza and the need to release all hostages.

Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, expressed concern about the decision, saying that it would avoid taking action that would guarantee an effective and unconditional ceasefire.

He said: “We will no longer tolerate fruitless decisions that do not include a call for a ceasefire, and that lead us nowhere.” He added: “This would free Israel's hands, and would lead to the entire population of Gaza, and its entire population, facing destruction, devastation or expulsion.”

In November, McCain said Gaza was “on the brink of famine” as the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement raged.

“First of all, the bottom line here is we need to get more aid, as has been said, we're looking at… maybe being on the brink of famine in this area,” McCain told CBS. Face the nation.” “This is something…that will spread. And with that comes disease and — and everything else you can imagine.