The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it has been forced to temporarily halt the delivery of aid to northern Gaza until proper safety measures can be implemented.

“We have not made the decision to suspend deliveries to the northern area of the Gaza Strip lightly. We understand that this will worsen the situation and put more lives at risk of starvation,” stated the agency.

The statement emphasized its strong dedication to promptly providing assistance to distressed individuals in the conflict-ridden area. However, ensuring the safety and security of both those delivering and receiving crucial food aid is of utmost importance.

In December, the United Nations and organizations focused on assisting those in need had expressed concerns about a potential famine in northern Gaza by May if significant improvements were not made in the region.

The condition is especially critical for kids, expectant mothers, and recent mothers, as one out of six children suffer from severe malnutrition.

Confronted with the barrage of bullets and intense rage.

The WFP reported that they have resumed their deliveries to northern Gaza on Sunday, after a three-week pause due to a strike on a UNRWA truck and the lack of a working humanitarian notification system.

On Sunday, a convoy heading towards Gaza City was met by a large group of hungry individuals near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint.

The UN agency reported that their team was met with people trying to climb onto their trucks and gunfire as they entered Gaza City. Despite these challenges, they were able to distribute a limited amount of food during their journey.

WFP reports that the second convoy’s trip north on Monday was met with “total chaos and brutality” as civil order broke down. They stated that numerous trucks were robbed while traveling between Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, and a driver was physically assaulted.

“The remaining flour was distributed off the trucks in Gaza City, amidst heightened tension and intense anger.”

Immediate action to reinstate assistance.

WFP stressed the importance of finding responsible methods to resume deliveries as quickly as possible.

It emphasized the necessity for a substantial increase in the amount of food entering the Gaza Strip through various pathways and for the opening of crossing points to the north of Gaza.

The organization stated that a reliable system for notifying about humanitarian efforts and a secure communication network are necessary. Additionally, the safety of their employees, partners, and the individuals they assist must also be ensured.

“Gaza is on the brink of disaster, and it is crucial for WFP to have the resources to prevent thousands of starving individuals from facing famine.”

Moving out patients from Nasser hospital

At the same time, the WHO is in the process of transporting patients out of the Nasser hospital complex in Khan Younis due to ongoing Israeli military actions and limited access.

The organization responsible for public health successfully carried out two missions, safely moving 32 critically ill patients, including two minors, out of the complex on Sunday and Monday.

The high-risk operations were carried out in strong collaboration with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The conditions at the hospital are still extremely serious.

According to the World Health Organization, the lack of electricity and running water, along with the accumulation of medical waste and garbage, has created a favorable environment for disease.

Hospital employees described the devastation in the vicinity as impossible to put into words. They observed that the hospital was encompassed by charred and ruined structures, thick piles of rubble, and no usable roads for access.

Source: news.un.org