Aid trucks carrying food for Gaza’s desperate population were intercepted by hungry crowds, forcing the World Food Programme (WFP) to reroute the aid. The WFP had brought 77 trucks loaded with flour into Gaza overnight and early on Saturday, but most of the food was taken by civilians in chaotic scenes.
The humanitarian organisation said it took the decision to let people take aid after a “very high” chance that convoys would not reach their warehouse due to the risk of violence. The crowds were made up of desperate civilians who had received word that food was coming, and the WFP tried to distribute the aid in safer locations.
However, despite the efforts of the WFP and other organisations, the amount of aid sent to Gaza in recent days amounts to only around 10% of people’s needs. The UN has described the situation as a “critical risk” of famine, with two million people in desperate need of food.
The Israeli blockade on Gaza was lifted last month, but the UN says that more than 900 trucks of aid have been stuck at the crossings due to security concerns. The UN humanitarian office has faced challenges in distributing aid due to escalating insecurity along routes and “desperate crowds” along the way.
Meanwhile, a new US-Israeli backed organisation has also been distributing food across Gaza, but the UN has refused to work with it due to concerns about its impact on humanitarian principles. The situation remains chaotic, with Israeli air strikes continuing and hospital closures reported in several areas of Gaza.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxy33z7p2lo