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Rabat – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has paused the humanitarian aid flow into the besieged enclave Gaza.
In a statement on its website, the agency reported tough work conditions that led to halting the crossing of aid across the “Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
Lacking safety measures, UNWRA said armed gangs targeted and stole a “large convoy of aid trucks” on November 16, which led the agency to rethink sending further aid shipments through this crossing.
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, posted about the decision on X. “We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into #Gaza.”
Citing ongoing siege and hurdles by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police, UNRWA described the humanitarian operation as “unnecessarily impossible.”
The UNRWA has called once again for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safe delivery of aid, attributing responsibility to “State of Israel as the occupying power” to guarantee protection for humanitarian workers and supplies.
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The Kerem Shalom crossing was first opened up to allow aid convoys for Palestinians in March, thanks to Morocco’s efforts and unique diplomatic position to be the first country in the world to be granted access for these shipments.
The war-torn city of Gaza is facing a humanitarian catastrophe as Palestinians are facing diminishing food supplies, IOF attacks, and the collapse of sanitary services.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have warned of an irreversible humanitarian crisis if the international community does not act to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
The IOF’s ongoing genocidal war is eradicating the lives of many innocent Palestinians and aid workers, killing more than 100 people just last night, according to reports.
Data from OCHA, the World Health Organization, and the Palestinian government show the complete devastation. More than half of Gaza’s homes, 80% of its commercial facilities, 87% of its school buildings, 68% of its road networks, 68% of its cropland, were partially or completely destroyed, while 17 of 36 hospitals are partially functional.
