War & humanitarian law
Humanitarian access
Humanitarian access refers to the ability of humanitarian agencies to reach civilians in need, and the freedom of affected populations to reach assistance safely.
Why it matters
Under the Geneva Conventions, parties to conflict must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians.
Key context
Obstruction of humanitarian access in Gaza—through border closures, movement denials, military operations and checkpoint delays—has been widely condemned by the UN and the ICJ.
Sources
United Nations OCHA - Access Monitoring Reports
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