UN Unable to Deliver Aid to Gaza Strip
The United Nations announced that it would be unable to deliver basic necessities to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Friday. This is due to a collapse in communication within the Palestinian enclave and a lack of fuel. The World Health Organization has warned that this paralyzed aid situation could lead to the immediate possibility of starvation for the approximately 2.3 million people residing in the embattled region.
According to a statement on social media, the U.N. agency operating in Gaza, UNRWA, explained that "The communications network in #Gaza is down because there is NO fuel." This fuel shortage has made it impossible to manage or coordinate humanitarian aid convoys.
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini expressed his concerns, stating, "We will not be able to uphold our commitments to provide for the Palestinian people any longer. I find it outrageous that humanitarian agencies are reduced to begging for fuel and then forced to decide who they will assist or not assist, especially when there is such a large population in a lifesaving situation."
Supplies of Food and Water Practically Non-Existent in Gaza
Supplies of food and water in Gaza are severely lacking, according to WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. She stated that only a fraction of what is needed is arriving through the borders.
Since the beginning of the war, Israel has been preventing shipments of fuel from entering Gaza, citing concerns that Hamas would hoard the fuel. However, this week, limited shipments were allowed for UNRWA.
An Israeli official informed Reuters on Friday that Israel's war cabinet had approved the daily entry of two trucks of fuel into Gaza to meet the United Nations' needs. This decision was made following a request from the United States.
"I can confirm that UNRWA did not receive any fuel today," said Juliette Touma, Director of Communications at UNRWA. "We need a minimum of 120,000 liters of fuel per day for humanitarian operations. We have been running out of fuel and have been forced to beg for it for the past five weeks."
On Thursday night, Israel's war cabinet voted to allow the delivery of significant amounts of fuel through the Rafah crossing. This decision came after direct and urgent warnings from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who emphasized that any further delay could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe in southern Gaza.
Cabinet Approves Fuel Deliveries to Gaza
The cabinet has given its approval for the delivery of 140,000 liters of fuel every 48 hours to Gaza. This decision comes after weeks of pressure from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who emphasized the urgent need for fuel deliveries due to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Of the 140,000 liters, 120,000 will be dedicated to UNRWA trucks that provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza, as well as for desalinization, well and sewage pumping, solid waste disposal, and hospitals in the south. The remaining 20,000 liters will be used for Paltel generators that power cell and internet communications in the region.
The fuel deliveries will be offloaded at the Rafah fuel depot and then distributed accordingly. This decision comes after a small amount of fuel, 24,000 liters, was delivered on Wednesday for UN aid trucks.
War in Gaza: Thousands of Palestinians Killed, Israeli PM Blames Hamas
According to Palestinian health authorities, the ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in the death of over 11,000 Palestinians. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed his regret over the high number of civilian casualties in an interview with CBS News. He stated, "Unfortunately, we're not successful in minimizing civilian casualties in Gaza because Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm's way."
