BY Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN agencies on Monday warns that civilians trapped in Gaza facing multiple daily challenges as relief supplies run critically low after the ongoing Israeli aid blockade and bombardment of Gaza.
Heads of the UN’s aid agencies in a joint statement warned that “we are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” with Israeli displacement orders forcing hundreds of thousands to flee with nowhere safe to go.
“With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act firmly, urgently and decisively to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld.
“Protect civilians, facilitate aid, release hostages renew a ceasefire,” they urged.
Top UN officials said that over 2.1 million Gazans are being “trapped, bombed and starved again,”.
They added that any assertions that there is sufficient food inside the Strip to feed everyone is far from the reality on the ground.
UNICEF announced the closure of 21 malnutrition treatment centres in Gaza, owing to the resumption of hostilities and the recent evacuation orders issued for areas where the centres were operating.
The development came as the UN agency warned that more than one million children in Gaza have been impacted by the Israeli embargo.
UNICEF Spokesperson Abu Khalaf condemned the blockade while confirming it has thousands of aid parcels waiting to be delivered to Gaza.
Complementary food supplies for infants in Gaza have now run out, he said, with only enough ready-to-use milk left to feed 400 children for a month, the agency said.
UNRWA highlighted the increasingly dire impact of Israel’s 2 April decision to stop allowing all humanitarian and commercial supplies into the enclave.
Media reports cited the Gazan health authorities on Sunday said that Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people, including over a dozen women and children.
Israeli military was alleged to have completely destroyed almost all homes in Rafah and isolated the southern city from the rest of the enclave.
“It’s been over a month since the State of Israel banned the entry of aid and commercial supplies into #Gaza,” UNRWA said. “Stocks are getting low and the situation is becoming desperate.”
WFP reported that its 25 subsidized bakeries have had to close.
It said that stocks are dwindling and prices of the few remaining items in shops have soared because no food aid nor cooking gas is entering Gaza.
“Poor kids are looking all day for food to eat, and they can’t find any,” said Jalila Abu Laila, at a camp for displaced Gazans in the north of the enclave.
“Basically, nothing is available; they might only get some rice from the good people who give some out, but in general, we are unable to provide anything.”
Israeli cities reportedly came under attack on Sunday including the southern city of Ashkelon after Palestinian fighters Hamas claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Israel.
Israel’s military said 10 projectiles were fired, but most were successfully intercepted.
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