GAZA, (PIC)
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that the amount of food and humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip has decreased by two-thirds since Israel began its military operation in Rafah on May 7 of the current month.
The UN OCHA office said in a statement on Wednesday that “the amount of food and other aid entering Gaza, which was already insufficient to meet the growing needs, has been further reduced since May 7th.”
The office noted that since May 7th until yesterday, Tuesday, the average number of trucks reaching Gaza was 58 trucks per day, compared to a daily average of 176 aid trucks from April 1st to May 6th, representing a 67% decrease. This figure does not include private sector goods and fuel.
The United Nations has long said that at least 500 trucks of aid and commercial goods per day are needed to be brought into the Strip.
As Israel has waged its devastating aggression for about 8 months, the aids provided to the 2.2 million Palestinian residents of the Strip has mainly entered through two crossings in southern Gaza, the Rafah crossing from Egypt and the Karam Abu Salem crossing from Israel.
The UN OCHA office explained that aid trucks have dwindled due to the closure of the Rafah crossing, the inability to safely and continuously transport goods through the Karam Abu Salem crossing, as well as the limited delivery operations through other entry points.
The OCHA office also noted that no aid entered Gaza from the sea port on Monday and Tuesday.
WHO condemnation
Meanwhile, more than 30 countries at a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting on Wednesday condemned Israel’s attacks on hospitals in Gaza and called for an investigation into its role in the health crisis in the enclave, while some countries also held Israel responsible for exacerbating the risk of famine.
WHO has documented hundreds of attacks on health facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, since the start of the offensive on the enclave last October 7.
This month, Israel launched a new military operation on the city of Rafah, leading to the suspension of patient transfers, the disruption of medical supplies, and threats to the last functioning hospital in the city.
A group of countries at the annual WHO meeting in Geneva is supporting a proposal that empowers the United Nations agency to support the documentation of the disastrous humanitarian crisis in Gaza and write reports on hunger, amid UN warnings of the outbreak of famine and disease after about 8 months of the devastating war on Gaza.
The proposal is supported by more than 30 countries, mostly from Africa and the Gulf region, in addition to Russia, Türkiye and China, and more countries have expressed support for the proposal in their comments. It was expected to be voted on later on Wednesday, but the heated debate postponed it to Thursday.
On another note, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, stressed the rejection of any attempt to designate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization.
This came during his meeting with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on Wednesday, in response to Israel’s decision to designate the UN agency as a terrorist organization, according to a post by Borrell on X.
Borrell said, “I met with Lazzarini, he no longer has words to describe the situation in Gaza, day after day the procession of death continues, people not only lose their lives, but hope and the social fabric are being destroyed.”
Borrell stressed the need to put an end to this tragedy which “offends our conscience and our humanity.”
He went on to reaffirm the EU support for UNRWA, praising its work and team, and noted the resumption of financial support for the agency, stating that the next installment of the European Union’s support is on its way. He said firmly, “We reject any attempt to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization, as it remains the indispensable lifeline for Palestinians.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset approved in a preliminary reading a bill to revoke UNRWA’s immunity and privileges in 2024. It still needs to pass three more readings to become law, as part of what Palestinian, UN and international parties describe as an Israeli campaign to dismantle UNRWA and end the refugee issue.
