The United Nations has welcomed Israel’s announcement of opening its Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow aid into the Gaza strip.

“The fast implementation of this agreement will increase the flow of aid”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, adding that “a humanitarian ceasefire will increase the distribution of that aid across Gaza even more”.

The spokesperson added that UN humanitarians with its aid coordination office OCHA have reported that much of Gaza on Friday remained flooded following heavy rains “compounding already extreme human suffering”.

According to news reports, once details are finalised, aid will be offloaded on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom.