The UN Relief and Works Agency has announced the suspension of aid deliveries to Gaza due to a significant rise in security threats, particularly looting by armed groups.
UN Halts Aid Deliveries Following Violence and Security Fears in Gaza
UN Halts Aid Deliveries Following Violence and Security Fears in Gaza
UN agency suspends aid convoys to Gaza, citing safety concerns amid escalating violence.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has temporarily halted its aid deliveries through the crucial Kerem Shalom crossing, highlighting safety concerns following violent incidents involving armed gangs. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's head, reported that recent convoys were looted near this key entry point, prompting a call for Israel to ensure law and order in the area. Kerem Shalom is vital for sustaining the over two million residents in Gaza, who face a looming famine exacerbated by increasing thefts targeting humanitarian supplies.
Lazzarini described the situation as intolerable, particularly after an armed gang made off with 97 out of 109 lorries carrying essential food supplies last month. In defiance of aid efforts, local gangs, including a prominent criminal family, have obstructed access to aid distribution points, further complicating humanitarian assistance. Allegations have also surfaced regarding the presence of armed groups operating freely in areas monitored by Israeli forces.
The suspension of aid deliveries comes in the wake of escalating violence, including an Israeli airstrike that killed three employees of the food charity World Central Kitchen. Israel maintained that the strike targeted an individual linked to a past attack. "Humanitarian aid must be safe and not pose a danger to those delivering it,” asserted Lazzarini, urging Israel to uphold its responsibility to protect aid workers.
Despite Israel's assertions of facilitating a steady flow of aid to Gaza and opening additional crossings under international pressure, Kerem Shalom remains the primary route for humanitarian efforts. The deteriorating conditions within Gaza were underscored in a recent review by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, noting that aid shipments had dwindled to their lowest point since the outbreak of the current conflict. The UN and international charities urgently called for immediate action to mitigate an impending humanitarian catastrophe.
Lazzarini described the situation as intolerable, particularly after an armed gang made off with 97 out of 109 lorries carrying essential food supplies last month. In defiance of aid efforts, local gangs, including a prominent criminal family, have obstructed access to aid distribution points, further complicating humanitarian assistance. Allegations have also surfaced regarding the presence of armed groups operating freely in areas monitored by Israeli forces.
The suspension of aid deliveries comes in the wake of escalating violence, including an Israeli airstrike that killed three employees of the food charity World Central Kitchen. Israel maintained that the strike targeted an individual linked to a past attack. "Humanitarian aid must be safe and not pose a danger to those delivering it,” asserted Lazzarini, urging Israel to uphold its responsibility to protect aid workers.
Despite Israel's assertions of facilitating a steady flow of aid to Gaza and opening additional crossings under international pressure, Kerem Shalom remains the primary route for humanitarian efforts. The deteriorating conditions within Gaza were underscored in a recent review by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, noting that aid shipments had dwindled to their lowest point since the outbreak of the current conflict. The UN and international charities urgently called for immediate action to mitigate an impending humanitarian catastrophe.
