By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with africanews.com
Published on 2024-01-17 10:45:42
UN aid agencies have issued a warning that there are “pockets of famine” already existing in Gaza, as thousands of people have been displaced by Israeli bombardments and are left with little to no access to food. The World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization released a joint statement calling for the opening of new entry routes into Gaza to deliver humanitarian supplies.
While not directly blaming Israel for impeding access to Gaza, the UN agencies stated that not enough trucks are being allowed through border checks each day. They demanded fewer restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers and the guaranteed safety of those accessing and distributing aid.
In the north of Gaza, approximately 300,000 people are still living amid the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes. The UN reported that delivering aid to them has been hindered by the ongoing fighting. The UN also stated that in January, less than a quarter of aid convoys had reached their destinations in the north due to denied access by Israeli authorities.
Qatar and France recently announced a deal they had brokered with Israel and Hamas to deliver urgent medication to 45 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for humanitarian and medical aid for the most vulnerable civilians in the territory. This aid is expected to leave Qatar for Egypt on Wednesday before being taken across the Rafah border crossing into Gaza.
The situation in Gaza is dire, and access to food and aid is becoming increasingly limited. The demand for new entry routes, fewer restrictions on aid workers, and guaranteed safety for those accessing and distributing aid must be met to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the region.
