New York, NY, USA - June 4, 2024

Storyline:
The United Nations top humanitarian official, Martin Griffiths, who is stepping down from his post at the end of June, on Tuesday called for efforts to ensure safe and better access to continue humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Griffiths, who is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stressed that no effort will be spared to ensure that aid reaches those who need it across the Gaza Strip and that the safety of the aid workers and of civilians remains paramount.

Griffiths advocated for safe aid delivery so that they can continue to work to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.

He also noted that UN should play a central role in distribution of humanitarian supplies after the end of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, but it's unrealistic for UN to send peacekeeping troops to ensure governance and security in the region.

Shotlist:
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - June 29, 2023:
1. United Nations headquarters building;
UN Headquarters, New York City - June 4, 2024:
2. Press room;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (partially overlaid with shot 4):
"They don't quit, famously, they talk about staying and delivering. That in Gaza, staying and delivering is a promise more than a fact. We're looking at an operation which is not delivering. So we won't pull out unless the security is such that it's just too dangerous to be there. I have my own colleagues in Rafa, in Gaza, in the central area as well. They're not leaving.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Gaza Strip - Feb 16, 2024:
4. Various of damaged headquarters of UNRWA;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: UN headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown:
5. UN logo;
6. UN flag;
UN Headquarters, New York City - June 4, 2024:
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (partially overlaid with shots 8-10):
"So we need safe route, we need better access, we need then to have clarity about how aid workers who are needed to help the distribution of aid. You can't just drop the aid and go. It needs to be distributed so that the most vulnerable get the priority, that they should be enabled to go back to their work safely. So it's not rocket science. This is something we need everywhere."
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Rafah border crossing, Egypt - Dec 1, 2023:
8. Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid at Rafah border crossing;
9. Stacked supplies;
FILE: Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - Nov 22, 2023:
10. Workers at supply site, truck loaded with flour sacks;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Zeitoun Neighborhood, Gaza Strip - May 17, 2024:
11. Various of ruined buildings, smoke in sky; ruined buildings, local residents walking, searching amid ruins.

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