Dozens of bakeries shut down in Gaza amid Israeli blockade: Media Office
Ismail al-Thawabtah, the director general of the Government Media Office in Gaza, has provided an update on the latest humanitarian situation in the enclave amid the ongoing Israeli blockade of aid.
Here are his translated comments:
- This closure has disrupted the entry of fuel and cooking gas, causing dozens of bakeries to cease operations.
- The systematic closure policy and denial of fuel entry have not only disrupted bakeries and vital institutions, but have also completely paralysed the transportation sector, disrupting the movement of citizens and limiting their ability to reach hospitals and medical centres.
- We warn of the disastrous repercussions of this closure and call on the international community and human rights and humanitarian organisations to take immediate action to pressure the Israeli occupation to open the crossings urgently.
Aid groups reducing food rations in Gaza, UN says
The Israeli blockade on aid to Gaza will lead to “more dire consequences on the ground” if it continues, warns UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
“Our partners report having to reduce food rations to prioritise assistance for as many vulnerable people as possible,” Dujarric told reporters. “The food security situation could sharply deteriorate unless the flow of aid into Gaza resumes as quickly as possible.”
Gaza health official makes plea for oxygen generators
Bassam al-Hamadine, an assistant undersecretary in the Health Ministry in Gaza, says the enclave “urgently” needs at least 10 oxygen generators to replace equipment that had been destroyed by the Israeli military.
Patients are “suffering in intensive care units and operation rooms due to the lack of access to oxygen supplies”, al-Hamadine said in a statement.
