Food delivery resumed after three weeks, but most of it was looted.
“Relief supplies must be expanded and the northern border checkpoint must be opened.”
As the war in the Gaza Strip prolongs and the looting of relief supplies by residents suffering from severe food shortages intensifies, the United Nations has decided to temporarily suspend relief food delivery to northern Gaza.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced on the 20th (local time) that it would temporarily suspend relief food aid in northern Gaza until conditions for safe distribution are established.
According to WFP, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) resumed the delivery of relief goods for the first time in three weeks on the 18th, and planned to send food in 10 trucks to northern Gaza City for 7 days.
However, as the truck was heading north, it was surrounded by starving residents near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint in the central region, and was shot after it managed to enter Gaza City.
A second convoy was launched the next day, but several trucks were looted between Khan Yunis in the south and Deir al-Balah in the center. A truck driver was also beaten. The remaining food was voluntarily taken by residents amidst the chaos.
WFP said, “Over the past two days, we have witnessed an unprecedented level of desperation,” and expressed concern, “We have been able to confirm that the Gaza Strip is rapidly falling into hunger and disease.”
According to a report released the day before by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WFP based on the latest data, 15.6% of infants and children under the age of 2 in northern Gaza were found to be acutely malnourished.
Approximately 3% suffer from life-threatening levels of severe malnutrition, putting them at risk of complications and death if they do not receive emergency treatment.
WFP said, “We will seek ways to resume deliveries in a responsible manner as soon as possible,” and urged that the current situation can only be resolved by expanding relief supplies and opening border checkpoints to northern Gaza.
Source: Donga
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