On February 5, a strike by Israeli forces targeted a United Nations convoy carrying essential food supplies in the central Gaza region, before blocking the trucks to prevent them from reaching the north of the territory, where Palestinians are on the brink. of famine. The attack took place despite a prior agreement on the route between the UN and the Israeli military, highlighting the major challenges facing humanitarian efforts in delivering aid to the population of Gaza, including nearly 2 million people are displaced.
The convoy of 10 trucks, mainly loaded with wheat flour essential for making bread, was hit by Israeli naval fire. Although no one was injured, much of the contents were destroyed. This series of incidents where humanitarian aid convoys and storage warehouses were hit comes against the backdrop of Israel’s continued attacks on the Gaza Strip for almost five months.
Following this attack, UNRWA decided to suspend the sending of convoys to the north of Gaza, where the population, estimated at 300,000 people, is in great difficulty. Malnutrition has already been noted in 16.2% of children in this region, a figure well above the critical threshold according to the UN.
This sad reality raises questions about the safety of aid workers and access to needy populations. Despite the coordination procedures put in place between UNRWA and the Israeli army, incidents continue, endangering the lives of civilians already affected by a prolonged conflict.
The humanitarian challenge in Gaza requires immediate action to ensure the secure delivery of vital aid to populations in distress. It is imperative that all parties take concrete steps to protect civilians and facilitate access to humanitarian assistance, putting aside political differences. The emergency is glaring, and a collective response is essential to avoid an even more serious humanitarian catastrophe in this ravaged region.