By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – World food programme on Monday said that only 3% of food and water deliveries organized by the agency have been permitted to enter areas in northern Gaza since Israeli forces launched a ground offensive in northern Gaza.
UN joint convoy of 9 trucks successfully reached people in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, who had been cut off from aid for over 75 days in December.
UN staffers showed the images of desperate residents rushing out from shelters to retrieve the bottled water, flour and canned food.
WFP has put in 101 requests to deliver food to areas in Gaza’s north governorate since the offensive began on 6 October: only three have been approved, including the 20 December convoy.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher in a statement released on Monday warned that the “near-total siege” of the northern region is “raising the spectre of famine”, whilst conditions in extremely overcrowded South Gaza are creating “horrific living conditions and even greater humanitarian needs” as winter sets in.
Mr. Fletcher visited UN staff, partners and communities in several Middle Eastern countries, described Gaza as the most dangerous place in the world to deliver aid, in a year when more humanitarians have been killed than any on record.
He noted the concern is the breakdown of law and order, and the looting of UN supplies by armed gangs.
The agencies stressed that the military operation by Israeli forces in northern Gaza is ongoing. The severely limiting the delivery of food aid, the tightening siege has left up to 15,000 people without access to food, water, electricity or healthcare.
Mass casualty incidents continue to afflict the Strip, UN agencies stated.
According to media reports 20 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes overnight, including in al-Mawasi, which is designated as a humanitarian zone, and the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
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