UNRWA chief says pausing aid delivery through key Gaza-Israel crossing
The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees is pausing the delivery of aid through the key Karem Abu Salem crossing, known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis, between Israel and Gaza because of security concerns, its chief said.
“We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom … The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs. Yesterday, we tried to bring in a few food trucks on the same route. They were all taken,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X.
#BREAKING 🛑:
We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into #Gaza.
The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months.
On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs.
Yesterday, we…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 1, 2024
UNRWA officer says security situation has gone worse for aid convoys
Louise Wateridge, an emergency officer of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, says UNRWA has been forced to suspend the aid supplies coming from the Karem Abu Salem (known as Kerem Shalom for Israelis) crossing in southeastern Gaza.
“This is because of the safety of our staff. We are at the situation now, where we are not being safely facilitated [for] aid through this crossing,” she said, speaking to Al Jazeera from Nuseirat Camp in Gaza.
“The situation has just gone worse and worse in the last days and weeks, and for these reasons, we had to suspend aid coming through Kerem Shalom,” Wateridge added.
Criminal gangs have been more active in Gaza: UNRWA officer
Louise Wateridge, the UNRWA emergency officer, says there has been a rise of “criminal gangs and criminal activities” in Gaza, targeting aid convoys.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from the Nuseirat Camp in Gaza, she stressed this has been happening since May, when the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza with Egypt was closed.
“Since May, the situation has deteriorated on daily basis. We have seen a huge significant decrease coming into the Gaza Strip,” Wateridge said.
“That has led to desperation of people, who don’t have what they need and it has led and forced criminal activities,” she stressed, adding that UNRWA stopped its aid activity through Karem Abu Salem as a result of the worsening situation.
UNRWA’s halt on aid delivery worsens Gaza food crisis
All of the trucks that entered the Gaza Strip were looted, so aid was not reaching people.
Most of the looting is happening in Israeli-controlled areas, and this was cited in a couple of articles where UN officials said that most of this looting had been organised between those gangs and Israeli forces.
The stop to all aid delivery announced by UNRWA through the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom to Israelis) crossing is another step that is going to increase the misery of people – the fact that people will not be able to receive any aid in the Gaza Strip, where they completely rely on food aid and distribution.
At Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, there was a community kitchen for the World Central Kitchen (WCK), and because of the killing of the three employees yesterday, all of the patients and workers at the hospital are unable to get their meal today, because WCK has halted their operations.
Now, UNRWA is not getting any trucks. That’s another way Israel has been stressing and pushing all food aid agencies. The situation is catastrophic. It’s another step towards famine, towards forced starvation.
‘There is no law or order’ in Gaza
The Israeli military has deliberately targeted law enforcement and those who work in protecting and securing delivery of aid into Gaza since the beginning of the war. This has created a power vacuum, throwing the whole Strip into lawlessness. There is no law or order, creating mayhem across Gaza.
The suspension of UNRWA’s operations of delivery of aid to a much needed population is a byproduct of ongoing attacks on UNRWA, its facilities and partners – the World Central Kitchen was attacked yesterday.
Employees do not feel safe in the facilities or on the ground, moving trucks from one area to another.
Groups attacking aid trucks are supported by Israel
Groups of armed Palestinians supported and protected by the Israeli military have been attacking aid convoys.
This has been verified by many people very close to the areas these armed groups happened to be looting these trucks from and preventing them from reaching their designated points.
When we think about the impacts of these attacks, they exacerbate the dire humanitarian crisis in the enclave. These are vital routes to bring in essential food, medicine, water and other vital supplies.
