Gaza Faces Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Aid Blockade
At least two individuals have died, and others were injured at a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Gaza, where chaos erupted as hundreds rushed to collect food donations on Wednesday. This tragic incident reflects the dire circumstances faced by many Palestinians due to an 11-week siege and the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid by Israel, which have pushed the region to the brink of famine.
Witnesses described scenes of desperation, with aid seekers seen struggling to carry large bags of flour, each weighing around 25 kilograms, as they pushed their way out of the facility. In Gaza, a kilo of flour can sell for as much as 70 shekels ($62), while an entire bag can escalate to approximately 500 shekels ($444). Local reports indicate that humanitarian needs have spiraled out of control following an 80-day complete blockade of all food assistance and other supplies into Gaza.
The WFP's Middle East and North Africa branch, via social media platform X, has consistently sounded the alarm regarding the increasingly alarming and deteriorating conditions on the ground, emphasizing the heightened risks of limiting humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. This incident follows a previous day when Israeli troops lost control of a crowd of Palestinians at a U.S.-backed aid distribution center. In that instance, they opened fire in a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation, killing at least one individual and injuring approximately 48 others, according to reports.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been chosen by Israel and supported by the U.S. to distribute aid, has come under criticism from the UN and other organizations that have refused to participate in the program. John Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the West Bank and Gaza, highlighted concerns at a press briefing on Wednesday, characterizing the new aid distribution scheme as a "surveillance-based rationing" system that legitimizes what he termed a policy of deprivation.
Whittall warned that the UN would not engage with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, arguing that the scheme is logistically unworkable and undermines humanitarian principles by weaponizing aid as part of Israel's broader strategic efforts to depopulate certain areas of Gaza.
Furthermore, the UN has indicated that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will likely be unable to meet the massive demands of feeding more than 2 million people currently residing in the Gaza Strip. This crisis was compounded when Jake Wood, the founding director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resigned on Sunday, noting the organization’s insurmountable challenges in delivering aid while maintaining adherence to humanitarian principles, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
Israel has defended its blockade by stating that it aims to prevent Hamas militants from accessing aid, thereby denying the group potential profits and strengthening its resources. However, the UN has dismissed claims that significant diversion of aid towards Hamas is occurring.
As the situation continues to unfold, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza only deepens, underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict and for a more effective and principled approach to humanitarian assistance.
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