Gaza Medical Supplies Looting: UN Condemns Armed Individuals
On Friday, the United Nations strongly condemned an armed group for raiding medical warehouses in Gaza, reporting the theft of critical supplies. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, revealed that these individuals stormed a field hospital facility in Deir al-Balah, seizing a significant amount of medical equipment, medications, and nutritional supplements meant for malnourished children.
Dujarric highlighted that the looted supplies had only arrived in Gaza the day prior. As conditions worsen in the region, with public safety diminishing, reports of looting are becoming more frequent. He distinguished this incident from another looting event just two days before, where starving Palestinians took food from a UN World Food Program warehouse, noting the organized nature of Friday’s raid involving armed men.
Aid Crisis Rages Amid Escalating Conflict
Since Israel has started to allow a limited flow of aid into Gaza after a long blockade that began on March 2, the situation remains critical. The UN has expressed that the amount of aid so far is insufficient compared to the vast humanitarian needs within the territory, where severe food and medicine shortages have been reported. The UN humanitarian agency stated that an alarming 100 percent of Gaza’s population is currently at risk of famine.
The region has been left in ruins due to Israel’s extensive military operation, which has claimed the lives of over 54,321 people, primarily civilians, according to UN-verified health ministry statistics. This offensive has decimated hospitals, schools, residential neighborhoods, and pivotal road and sewage infrastructure.
Background of the Conflict: A Rapid Escalation
Israel’s military campaign was initiated following an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals, mostly civilians, as reported by AFP using official figures. The violent repercussions of this conflict have led to horrific humanitarian consequences for the people of Gaza.
On Thursday, Dujarric revealed that humanitarian partners managed to gather only five trucks’ worth of supplies from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, as an additional 60 trucks had to turn back due to the intense hostilities. He refuted Israeli claims suggesting that the UN was failing to collect the available aid, stating that the safety of the road designated by the Israeli military had deteriorated significantly.
Specific Humanitarian Efforts and Challenges
Of the five trucks that succeeded in delivering aid on Thursday, they carried essential medical supplies for the Deir al-Balah field hospital. Tragically, most of these supplies were looted during the armed raid the next day. Dujarric expressed deep sorrow over the event, characterizing it as a tragic loss amid an already dire humanitarian crisis.
This ongoing conflict and the loss of vital resources threaten not only the immediate health of the population but also exacerbate the already critical situation facing children and families in Gaza. As the UN and its partners navigate these challenges, the need for safety and stability becomes ever more urgent.
