A devastating incident occurred in southern Gaza on Saturday, where approximately 100 aid trucks were “violently looted”, 97 of the 109 trucks carrying food supplies for UNRWA and the World Food Program were “washed away” in the looting .
UNRWA described it as one of the “worst” incidents of its kind.
Drivers were forced to evacuate trucks at gunpoint, aid workers were injured and vehicles were extensively damaged.
The perpetrators of the looting are unknown, but UNRWA blames “the collapse of law and order” and “the approach of Israeli authorities” for creating a dangerous environment.
a combined 109-truck @un Convoy carrying food items for the people #Gaza There was massive looting on 16 November. Most of the trucks, a total of 97, were destroyed and the drivers were forced at gunpoint to unload aid.
Due to severe flour shortage, all eight UN-backed… pic.twitter.com/59RHJKWLAU
– UNRWA (@UNRWA) 18 November 2024
“Well, we have been warning for a long time about the complete destruction of civil order; (till four or five months ago, we still had people in local capacity leading the convoys. It is completely over,” Lazzarini told a press conference in Geneva on Monday.
The incident comes amid warnings from the United Nations that without immediate intervention there will be serious shortages of food and aid in Gaza. Civilians fleeing northern Gaza have reported persistent food shortages and hunger-related deaths, with aid agencies warning of impending famine.
According to the NYT, UNRWA spokeswoman Louise Waterridge, currently based in Gaza, said, “People are absolutely desperate for anything at the moment. We’re back to a stage where we literally need people for a bag of flour.” Seeing them fighting for.”
Israel’s parliament recently voted to impose sanctions on UNRWA, restricting its operations in Israeli-occupied territories including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel claims that UNRWA has ties to Hamas and promotes hatred against Israel, allegations UNRWA denies.
UNRWA is not allowed to use its own trucks and drivers and has to rely on Israeli authorities to provide vehicles and aid workers are also not allowed to have armed guards. Wateridge said, “It looks like something out of a science-fiction movie. They try to shield the vehicles as best they can and keep themselves safe. And they drive very, very fast and just try And try and not stop and just keep going. That’s the only protection they have.”
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza are taking a heavy toll on civilians. At least 50 people were killed in air strikes on Monday, including 17 members of a family. The local health ministry said the victims included children and a one-week-old newborn.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, described the scene as “very violent targeting by shelling from tanks.” The patients are filled with fear and terror, pleading for the world to stop the killing machines and the bombings.
The situation in Gaza remains serious, the threat of famine remains. The World Food Program has warned that one million people are at risk of starvation.
